A U.S. District judge in Houston pleaded guilty Monday to a obstruction of justice and resigned from the bench in a deal that ends prosecutor’s efforts on other charges.
Jury selection was set to begin today for Judge Samuel Kent on the obstruction charge and five felony charges that he sexually abused two court employees.
Kent faces up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge, which stemmed from an investigation conducted by a Special Investigative Committee of the 5th Circuit Court that was looking into allegations that he had non-consensual sexual contact with a court employee.
Famed defense attorney Dick DeGuerin spoke to reporters just after the hearing saying “Judge Kent believes that this settlement is in the best interest of all involved.”
DeGuerin said that Kent made the decision because a trial would have been long, embarrassing and difficult for all the parties.
Kent’s decision to retire after pleading guilty will have no effect on his eligibility for retirement benefits. Congress is expected to take action quickly to impeach Kent and get him off the government’s payroll. If they do so, Kent will be the 14 judge impeached by the U.S. House for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
