[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 93 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H7053-H7054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IMPEACHING JUDGE SAMUEL B. KENT

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Judiciary, 
I call up House Resolution 520 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 520

       Resolved, That Samuel B. Kent, a judge of the United States 
     District Court for the Southern District of Texas, is 
     impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the 
     following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the Senate:
        Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of 
     Representatives of the United States of America in the name 
     of itself and all of the people of the United States of 
     America, against Samuel B. Kent, a judge of the United States 
     District Court for the Southern District of Texas, in 
     maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for 
     high crimes and misdemeanors.

                               Article I

       Incident to his position as a United States district court 
     judge, Samuel B. Kent has engaged in conduct with respect to 
     employees

[[Page H7054]]

     associated with the court that is incompatible with the trust 
     and confidence placed in him as a judge, as follows:
       (1) Judge Kent is a United States District Judge in the 
     Southern District of Texas. From 1990 to 2008, he was 
     assigned to the Galveston Division of the Southern District, 
     and his chambers and courtroom were located in the United 
     States Post Office and Courthouse in Galveston, Texas.
       (2) Cathy McBroom was an employee of the Office of the 
     Clerk of Court for the Southern District of Texas, and served 
     as a Deputy Clerk in the Galveston Division assigned to Judge 
     Kent's courtroom.
       (3) On one or more occasions between 2003 and 2007, Judge 
     Kent sexually assaulted Cathy McBroom, by touching her 
     private areas directly and through her clothing against her 
     will and by attempting to cause her to engage in a sexual act 
     with him.
       Wherefore, Judge Samuel B. Kent is guilty of high crimes 
     and misdemeanors and should be removed from office.

                               Article II

       Incident to his position as a United States district court 
     judge, Samuel B. Kent has engaged in conduct with respect to 
     employees associated with the court that is incompatible with 
     the trust and confidence placed in him as a judge, as 
     follows:
       (1) Judge Kent is a United States District Judge in the 
     Southern District of Texas. From 1990 to 2008, he was 
     assigned to the Galveston Division of the Southern District, 
     and his chambers and courtroom were located in the United 
     States Post Office and Courthouse in Galveston, Texas.
       (2) Donna Wilkerson was an employee of the United States 
     District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
       (3) On one or more occasions between 2001 and 2007, Judge 
     Kent sexually assaulted Donna Wilkerson, by touching her in 
     her private areas against her will and by attempting to cause 
     her to engage in a sexual act with him.
       Wherefore, Judge Samuel B. Kent is guilty of high crimes 
     and misdemeanors and should be removed from office.

                              Article III

       Samuel B. Kent corruptly obstructed, influenced, or impeded 
     an official proceeding as follows:
       (1) On or about May 21, 2007, Cathy McBroom filed a 
     judicial misconduct complaint with the United States Court of 
     Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In response, the Fifth Circuit 
     appointed a Special Investigative Committee (hereinafter in 
     this article referred to as ``the Committee'') to investigate 
     Cathy McBroom's complaint.
       (2) On or about June 8, 2007, at Judge Kent's request and 
     upon notice from the Committee, Judge Kent appeared before 
     the Committee.
       (3) As part of its investigation, the Committee sought to 
     learn from Judge Kent and others whether he had engaged in 
     unwanted sexual contact with Cathy McBroom and individuals 
     other than Cathy McBroom.
       (4) On or about June 8, 2007, Judge Kent made false 
     statements to the Committee regarding his unwanted sexual 
     contact with Donna Wilkerson as follows:
       (A) Judge Kent falsely stated to the Committee that the 
     extent of his unwanted sexual contact with Donna Wilkerson 
     was one kiss, when in fact and as he knew he had engaged in 
     repeated sexual contact with Donna Wilkerson without her 
     permission.
       (B) Judge Kent falsely stated to the Committee that when 
     told by Donna Wilkerson his advances were unwelcome no 
     further contact occurred, when in fact and as he knew, Judge 
     Kent continued such advances even after she asked him to 
     stop.
       (5) Judge Kent was indicted and pled guilty and was 
     sentenced to imprisonment for the felony of obstruction of 
     justice in violation of section 1512(c)(2) of title 18, 
     United States Code, on the basis of false statements made to 
     the Committee. The sentencing judge described his conduct as 
     ``a stain on the justice system itself''.
       Wherefore, Judge Samuel B. Kent is guilty of high crimes 
     and misdemeanors and should be removed from office.

                               Article IV

       Judge Samuel B. Kent made material false and misleading 
     statements about the nature and extent of his nonconsensual 
     sexual contact with Cathy McBroom and Donna Wilkerson to 
     agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on or about 
     November 30, 2007, and to agents of the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation and representatives of the Department of 
     Justice on or about August 11, 2008.
       Wherefore, Judge Samuel B. Kent is guilty of high crimes 
     and misdemeanors and should be removed from office.

     

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