In what may be the last time the words “judge” and “Samuel B. Kent” are used together, the U.S. Senate voted today to stop impeachment proceedings against the imprisoned former U.S. district judge from Galveston who resigned his bench on June 30, officially giving up the title and his salary. On June 2, Kent had notified the president that he would resign his bench effective June 1, 2010, meaning he would keep his $174,000 salary as he served a 33-month sentence for obstruction of justice. The move infuriated many members of Congress who pressed to impeach Kent quickly so he would no longer receive his paycheck. The only way an Article III judge’s salary can be stopped is through impeachment or voluntary resignation. But Kent had a change of heart after the U.S. House voted to impeach him last month and several House members delivered Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. As a result of his June 30 resignation, the House suggested that the Senate not pursue an impeachment trial against Kent, who as part of a plea deal admitted to having nonconsensual sexual contact with his former secretary and former case manager in Galveston. Today the Senate was more than happy to abide by that request. “With the resignation of Judge Kent, the purposes of the House prosecution of the articles of impeachment against Judge Kent have been achieved,” said House Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada. “Judge Kent is no longer serving on the federal bench. He has ceased drawing his judicial salary. It is agreed that no useful purpose would now be accomplished by proceeding further with impeachment proceedings against Judge Kent. Accordingly, I now move that the Senate order that the articles of impeachment against former Judge Samuel B. Kent be dismissed.” The proposal was approved by a voice vote. And with that, Kent’s ugly spectacle comes to an end.
-- John Council
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