House committee sends judge’s impeachment to House
WASHINGTON — A House committee unanimously approved four articles of impeachment against a federal judge Wednesday in an attempt to remove him from office for lying about sexually assaulting two women.
The House Judiciary Committee sent the articles of impeachment against U.S District Judge Samuel Kent of Texas to the House on a 29-0 vote. If the full House votes to approve the impeachment charges, there would be a trial in the Senate. If approved by the House, the impeachment would be the first of a federal judge in 20 years.
The impeachment articles allege that Kent sexually assaulted two female employees and lied about the sexual assaults to a federal court of appeals investigative committee, to the FBI — twice — and to Justice Department officials.
Kent is scheduled to go to prison June 15 to serve a 33-month sentence. The 59-year-old jurist pleaded guilty in court last month to lying to the judicial panel about the sexual assaults.
As part of his plea bargain, Kent admitted that he tried to force Cathy McBroom, his former case manager, into unwanted sex acts in 2003 and 2007, and did the same with Donna Wilkerson, his secretary, from 2004 through at least 2005.
The Associated Press does not normally name alleged victims of sexual abuse, but McBroom’s attorney and her family have used her name in publicly discussing the case. Wilkerson knew her lawyer gave her name to reporters during Kent’s trial.
Rep. Lamar Smith, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said testimony last week from McBroom and Wilkerson was troubling, “especially because Samuel Kent abused his authority as a federal judge to intimidate his staff into silence.”
Kent had hoped to retire on disability after his conviction so he could continue to collect his $174,000 a year salary and retirement benefits. But a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals judicial panel rejected the request.
Kent would get nothing if he resigns, which is what several lawmakers want. Last week, Kent sent President Barack Obama a letter saying he would resign in June 2010.
But Smith and other lawmakers want him forced out sooner.
Smith has repeatedly said in hearings and statements that Kent will collect $465 a day of his taxpayer-funded salary while in jail.
Rep. Jerold Nadler, who presided over the committee meeting, said evidence collected for the impeachment was “copious and sobering” and made a strong case that impeachment is appropriate and necessary.
“He has come close to admitting he assaulted the women,” the New York Democrat said.
On the Net: House Judiciary Committee: www.judiciary.house.gov
Related News
Judge denies Ex-US Rep. Jefferson's request for a new trial on federal corruption chargesSeptember 21st, 2009 Judge: Ex-US Rep. Jefferson won't get new trialWASHINGTON — A federal judge has denied the request for a new trial by a former Louisiana congressman convicted on corruption charges.
Iowa judge moves trial for managers of kosher slaughterhouse that was site of immigration raidSeptember 1st, 2009 Iowa judge moves trial of slaughterhouse managersIOWA CITY, Iowa — A federal judge has moved the trial of four former managers of a kosher slaughterhouse that was the site of a massive immigration raid last year from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Sioux Falls, S.D. U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade ruled Tuesday that the "prodigious" amount of negative pretrial publicity about Agriprocessors, Inc., and former top manager Sholom Rubashkin caused potential jurors to develop a bias against them.
SC Republicans likely to discuss possible impeachment of philandering gov at annual meetingAugust 29th, 2009 SC GOP reps to discuss impeaching philandering govCOLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina House Republicans are expected to consider Gov.
Senate dismisses impeachment of imprisoned former federal judge, now that he's resignedJuly 22nd, 2009 Congress ends jailed judge's impeachmentWASHINGTON — The Senate has officially dismissed impeachment articles against a federal judge from Texas who is in prison in a sex-abuse case. Samuel B. Kent resigned from the bench June 30 just after the Senate began gathering evidence for his impeachment trial.
Federal judge dismisses former GOP House candidate's lawsuit against DA in Penn.July 16th, 2009 Ex-candidate's suit against DA in Penn. dismissedCLEARFIELD, Pa.
Impeached federal judge from Texas turns in resignation letter ahead of Senate trialJune 26th, 2009 Impeached federal judge to resignWASHINGTON — An imprisoned federal judge facing an impeachment trial in the Senate in a sex-abuse case says he will resign from the bench at the end of the month. U.S. District Judge Sam Kent produced the resignation letter when he was served with a subpoena for his Senate impeachment trial, Terrance Gainer, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, said on Thursday.
Impeached federal judge from Texas resigns ahead of Senate trialJune 25th, 2009 Impeached federal judge resignsWASHINGTON — A federal judge from Texas who was impeached by the House has resigned ahead of his Senate trial. U.S. District Judge Sam Kent turned over a letter of his resignation to a Senate official who was serving a subpoena on the judge at the Massachusetts prison where he is serving a 33-month prison sentence.
Senate accepts impeachment articles against US judge in prison on sex abuse caseJune 24th, 2009 Senate accepts impeachment articles against judgeWASHINGTON — The Senate began work Wednesday to force an imprisoned federal judge out of office. Following a process scripted by the U.S.
House impeaches convicted federal judge, first such vote since impeaching ClintonJune 19th, 2009 House impeaches federal judge from TexasWASHINGTON — The House on Friday impeached a federal judge imprisoned for lying about sexual assaults of two women in the first such vote since impeaching former President Bill Clinton a decade ago. The impeachment of U.S.
Republican forced voting marathon delays House plan to vote on US judge's impeachmentJune 19th, 2009 House postpones vote on judge's impeachmentWASHINGTON — The House on Thursday postponed a vote on the impeachment of a federal judge now in prison for lying about the sexual assaults of two female workers. The House had planned to vote on four articles of impeachment against U.S.
House to vote on impeachment charges against federal judge who lied in sex assault caseJune 17th, 2009 House schedules impeachment vote on federal judgeWASHINGTON — The U.S. House has scheduled a vote for Thursday morning on the impeachment of a Texas federal judge in prison for lying about sexual assaults of two women.
Efforts to impeach federal judge convicted of lying about sexual assaults move quicklyJune 9th, 2009 Pace quickens for impeaching convicted judgeWASHINGTON — A House panel has voted 10-0 to recommend impeachment of a federal judge from Texas who has been convicted of lying about sexual assaults of two female employees. The House task force, led by Rep.
Convicted federal judge submits resignation to avoid 'spectacle' of impeachmentJune 2nd, 2009 Convicted federal judge submits resignation letterHOUSTON — A convicted federal judge told the president Tuesday he would resign from the bench in June 2010, nearly a year after he enters prison for lying about sexually abusing two assistants. U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent would draw a full salary of $174,000 a year and benefits until the resignation takes effect, said his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin.
Judge denies motion to dismiss charges against all Grace executivesApril 28th, 2009 Judge continues trial against 4 Grace executivesMISSOULA, Mont. — A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss environmental crime charges against four former executives of W.R.
58 MPs move motion for scam-tainted judge's removalFebruary 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Fifty-eight Rajya Sabha members Friday moved a motion for the impeachment of Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen whose removal Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishna has sought on corruption charges.
Loading ...