Legal Beat

The Senate today met as a court of impeachment to dismiss four articles of impeachment against former U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent.

The House managers asked the Senate to drop the matter, because Kent has resigned his judgeship.

The House on July 20 adopted by voice vote a resolution (H Res 661) to tell the Senate that the process should be halted. Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., today told the Senate, meeting as an impeachment court, that the House wished to discontinue the proceedings.

The Senate then adopted by voice vote a motion by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to dismiss the impeachment articles.