[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 110 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  INSTRUCTING MANAGERS IN THE IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE KENT TO ADVISE THE 
 SENATE THAT THE HOUSE DOES NOT DESIRE FURTHER TO URGE THE ARTICLES OF 
                              IMPEACHMENT

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                               speech of

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2009

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee 
Task Force on Judicial Impeachment that was directed to inquire whether 
Judge Samuel B. Kent should be impeached, I rise to discuss the 
resolution before the House today and urge its adoption.
  On June 19, 2009, the House of Representatives voted to impeach 
Samuel B. Kent, judge of the United States District Court for the 
Southern District of Texas, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Four 
Articles of Impeachment were agreed to without dissent.
  On June 24, 2009, I was joined by the other House Managers in this 
matter in presenting the Articles of Impeachment to the United States 
Senate, whereupon proceedings were commenced. Later that day, Judge 
Kent was served with a summons by the Senate Sergeant at Arms, 
commanding an answer to the Articles of Impeachment. Upon being served, 
Judge Kent tendered his resignation to the President of the United 
States, effective June 30, 2009, which was accepted by the President.
  On July 6, 2009, the managers on the part of the House advised the 
Senate, sitting as a court of impeachment in this proceeding, of the 
resignation and its acceptance, and further advised the Senate that the 
managers had determined to recommend to the House that the pending 
impeachment proceedings in the Senate be discontinued.
  Given that Samuel B. Kent is no longer a civil officer of the United 
States, having ceased to be a judge, the managers on the part of the 
House of Representatives respectfully recommend that the impeachment 
proceedings pending in the Senate be discontinued.
  The resolution before us today instructs the House Managers to return 
to the Senate, to inform the Senate that, in light of Samuel Kent's 
resignation, the House no longer seeks to urge the articles of 
impeachment in trial before the Senate. This will enable the Senate to 
dispense with the pending trial.
  I wish to emphasize that, although the Senate trial has proved 
unnecessary, the House has fulfilled its purpose of seeking to remove 
from office a judge who had committed high crimes and misdemeanors 
rendering him unfit to continue serving.
  I would like to thank all my House colleagues for helping bring this 
matter to a successful result--and particularly my colleague Bob 
Goodlatte of Virginia, the Ranking Member of the Impeachment Task 
Force, for his leadership.
  I urge the House to adopt this resolution.

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