Judge Kent Resigns, Impeachment Begins
Defrocked District Court Judge Sam Kent resigned this week. Showing that he truly has no shame, Kent made his resignation effective June of 2010, so he can continue drawing his annual salary of $174,000 while he sits in a federal prison! According to the Houston Chronicle, Kent’s lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, showing a tin ear for the ensuing public outcry, said that he chose the June 1, 2010 effective date for the resignation because that is how long impeachment proceedings will take.
Impeachment proceedings began this week before the House Judiciary Committee. Members of Congress have indicated that they will not put up with Kent’s further corruption of the process. Sen. John Cornyn, R-San Antonio, said the judge “does not deserve another paycheck from American taxpayers.” Kent “betrayed the public trust, broke the law and trashed the oath that he swore to uphold,” Cornyn told the Chronicle.
To read the true depravity of Kent’s actions his victims’ statements to the House are posted here and here. It is still disturbing to me that in the face of the evidence, the Fifth Circuit Judicial Council only reprimanded this man who was abusing his position and sexually assaulting his staff and referred to the evidence as “alleg[ed] sexual harassment.”
