Former federal judge Samuel Kent was impeached in the House by a 389-0 vote. The Senate is expected to convene a trial in the next few weeks. You can view our earlier coverage of Judge Kent here and here. Sentencing Law & Policy, How Appealing, and the ABA Journal have more. You may view the actual impeachment resolution here. From the ABA Journal:
Not a single representative spoke on the imprisoned jurist's behalf, and the vote on the first of four articles of impeachment was 389-0, reports the Houston Chronicle. All four were swiftly approved in roll call votes that took only 30 minutes to complete.
The charges accuse the Texas-based judge of abusing his power by sexually assaulting two female court workers and lying about his conduct to authorities.
It is the first time since 1989 that a federal judge has been impeached. A speedy Senate trial is now expected, and could begin next month.
As detailed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, the 59-year-old Kent pleaded guilty in February to obstruction of justice in a matter related to his admitted nonconsensual sexual conduct concerning the two court workers. He began serving his 33-month sentence on Monday, at a prison medical facility in Ayer, Mass.
“This is the first time a federal judge has been convicted of a felony, has reported to prison and has still not resigned from his office. This shows how deep Judge Kent’s audacity truly runs,” Goodlatte said.
The charges accuse the Texas-based judge of abusing his power by sexually assaulting two female court workers and lying about his conduct to authorities.
It is the first time since 1989 that a federal judge has been impeached. A speedy Senate trial is now expected, and could begin next month.
As detailed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, the 59-year-old Kent pleaded guilty in February to obstruction of justice in a matter related to his admitted nonconsensual sexual conduct concerning the two court workers. He began serving his 33-month sentence on Monday, at a prison medical facility in Ayer, Mass.
“This is the first time a federal judge has been convicted of a felony, has reported to prison and has still not resigned from his office. This shows how deep Judge Kent’s audacity truly runs,” Goodlatte said.
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