Historic betrayals: from Clinton to Catherine the Great

The recent turmoil in the tech market, with Nvidia losing $1.081 trillion in market value in less than two weeks, has reignited interest in epochal stories of betrayal. The tech giant’s case, motivated by an alleged betrayal of CEO Jensen Huang and suspicions of Chinese espionage, is only the latest in a long list of episodes in which the breach of trust has had global consequences.

From sex scandals in Casa Branca to palace coups in Russia, treason has already toppled presidents, shaken governments and changed the course of history. Below are some of the most emblematic cases.

Clinton and Lewinsky: scandal shakes presidency

One of the most well-known sex scandals in history almost ended with the dismissal of a Estados Unidos president. In 1998, an extramarital relationship between Bill Clinton, then U.S. President, and Monica Lewinsky, a former Casa Branca intern, came to light.

The case began in November 1995, when Clinton was 49 and Lewinsky was 22. The president was married to Hillary Clinton. The story began to be revealed in January 1998, after Linda Tripp, a government official who had approached Lewinsky, secretly recorded phone conversations in which the young woman told details of the relationship.

That same month, Clinton had denied having sex with Lewinsky during a testimony in the lawsuit filed by Paula Jones, who accused him of sexual harassment. On January 26, 1998, the president also publicly denied the relationship, in a statement that would become one of his government's best known.

The president’s version, however, was challenged by a proof of the case, a blue-marine dress by Lewinsky that had semen stains. DNA tests identified compatibility between the biological material found in the piece and a sample provided by Clinton.

The president admitted that he had had an intimate relationship with Lewinsky. That night, he made a televised statement in which he apologized and acknowledged that the relationship had been inadequate.

In December 1998, the House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against Clinton, one for perjury and one for obstruction of justice. The trial took place in February 1999, but the Senate did not gather the necessary votes to condemn him. Clinton was acquitted and remained in office until January 2001, when he ended his second term.

Catherine the Great: treason on the Russian throne

Long before Putin, Russia’s history already had a case of treason as an adjunct. In 1762, Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, relied on the help of her lover, the military Grigori Orlov, to overthrow her own husband, Emperor Peter III, and assume the Russian throne.

The palace coup, marked by secret intrigues and alliances, changed the course of the empire and consolidated Catherine as one of the most powerful figures of her time. Betrayal, in this case, was the instrument for a political turnaround that resonated for decades.

Skuratov and Putin: intimate video in Russia

In Russia, in 1999, an intimate video on television sparked a political crisis that hit the then Attorney General, Yury Skuratov. The episode featured a name that would gain worldwide projection months later: Vladimir Putin, the current president of Russia.

Skuratov had held the position since 1995, during the government of Boris Yeltsin, and was conducting investigations into suspected corruption involving senior members of the government and people close to the president. The images displayed were recorded by a hidden camera that showed a man resembling Skuratov in intimate scenes with two women, pointed out as showgirls.

Married and father of two, the prosecutor said he had been the victim of a setup to damage his reputation and halt investigations. At the time, Putin was in charge of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the country’s main intelligence agency. He publicly stated that the video was authentic, reinforcing suspicions against Skuratov. The prosecutor then accused Putin of participating in a plan to tarnish his image.

In April 1999, Yeltsin removed Skuratov from office, claiming he was involved in a criminal investigation. The prosecutor contested the decision and said the case had been fabricated to prevent the continuation of investigations into corruption. The definitive impeachment took place only in April 2000.

Betrayal as the wire of history

The cases of Clinton, Catherine and Skuratov show how treason, in its different forms, can trigger political crises, the downfall of governments and profound transformations. Whether for passionate reasons, ambition or power struggle, the breakdown of trust remains a central theme in historical narratives.

As Nvidia faces the consequences of an alleged act of corporate treason, the story offers a vast repertoire of similar episodes. For the reader, the reflection remains on how trust, once broken, can alter the fate of nations and companies.

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