Sensenbrenner Wants Judge Impeached

By Seth Stern | February 25, 2009 11:57 AM | | Comments (0)

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis., intends to introduce an impeachment resolution against a Texas federal judge who pled guilty Monday to obstruction of justice.

Samuel B. Kent, a judge in the Southern District of Texas since 1990, has admitted that he lied to investigators looking into a sexual complaint against him and that he had non-consensual sexual contact with two female court employees.

As first reported by the Houston Chronicle, Sensenbrenner, a former House Judiciary Committee chairman, is angry that Kent is trying to claim a disability that would allow him to retire with full pay.

"For him to go on senior status early because of a disability which is sexually harassing employees is outrageous," Sensenbrenner told CQ on Wednesday. Sensenbrenner says the decision whether to grant Kent's disability request is in the hands of Edith Jones, the chief judge of the U.S. Cort of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Sensenbrenner says he's also concerned that absent impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate, Kent might try to go back on the bench once he gets out of prison.

The House Judiciary Committee has already begun an investigation into whether to impeach another district court judge, G. Thomas Porteous of Louisiana, who may have committed perjury by signing false financial disclosure statements.

Apparently, judicial impeachments come in pairs. The House took up impeachment proceedings against then federal judges Alcee L. Hastings of Florida in 1988 and Walter L. Nixon of Mississippi in 1989.

Sensenbrenner says Kent's case is more analogous to Nixon's, since both involved a felony conviction. Nixon received a five-year prison sentence for perjury.

Prior to his impeachment, Nixon continued to receive his judicial salary while in prison and indicated he intended to return to the bench and preside over cases after he was released.

More from CQ Politics

Post A Comment


(for verification only; will not be published with your comment)