House votes to impeach jailed judge

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Friday approved articles of impeachment against a federal judge in Texas, who remains on the bench and collecting a salary while in prison.

Judge Samuel Kent began his 33-month prison sentence for his guilty plea earlier this year to one count of obstruction of justice after being indicted on charges that included aggravated sexual assault and abusive sexual conduct against two female employees.

Kent has submitted his resignation effective June 1, 2010, and is collecting his $174,000 salary in the interim while in a federal prison in Massachusetts.

"This judge is not of good behavior, is incarcerated and was convicted of a felony ... (which is) obstruction of justice," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas.

The articles of impeachment charge the judge with high crimes and misdemeanors in the obstruction of justice charge and sexual assault charges. The matter now goes to the Senate for trial.

"He is not fit to sit on the federal judiciary," Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

The House must end Kent's "abuse of authority and exploitation of the American taxpayers," Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said.