Details emerge in Judge Kent scandal How far did this federal judge go?

A judicial council reprimanded U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent for 'inappropriate behavior' and accused him of misconduct over sexual harassment charges. But that only begins to tell the story.

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent is accused of groping a federal court employee. U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent is accused of groping a federal court employee. Photo: Kevin Bartram, GALVESTON DAILY NEWS FILE Photo: Kevin Bartram, GALVESTON DAILY NEWS FILE Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Details emerge in Judge Kent scandal 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The federal court employee at the center of a sexual misconduct complaint against U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent first went to her boss about the judge allegedly touching her inappropriately in 2003 — four years before the March incident that led to his reprimand by the 5th Circuit judicial council.

In mid-2003, case manager Cathy McBroom told her supervisor that the judge lured her into an office used as an exercise room and groped her, according to interviews with McBroom's friends, her mother and other sources.

But her female supervisor advised that McBroom could lose her job if she made a formal complaint, and no further action apparently was taken.

The alleged assault in March prompted McBroom to request an immediate transfer and file a judicial misconduct complaint. It resulted in a rare reprimand of the judge for sexual harassment and "inappropriate behavior" toward other employees.

For the first time, the Houston Chronicle is publishing details about the 2007 incident and other encounters based on interviews with McBroom's close friends, family and co-workers — all of whom spoke to McBroom in the hours or days after the incident.

McBroom and her attorney, Rusty Hardin, would not comment on specifics. However, Hardin told the Chronicle he is preparing a criminal complaint for federal officials.

"I believe (Kent) committed a felony under state and federal law, and we're so informing federal authorities."

Kent is barred from commenting on the investigation or the reprimand. His attorney refused a request for an interview and referred all questions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

This is McBroom's account of what happened in March as told to friends and her mother in conversation and in written notes:

McBroom was summoned to the judge's chambers on Friday, March 23, at about 3 p.m.

Her hands were full of legal papers when the judge — a former high school athlete who is more than 6 inches taller and at least 100 pounds heavier — asked for a hug.

She told him she didn't think that was appropriate, but reluctantly approached.

The judge grabbed Mc-Broom, pulled up her blouse and her bra and put his mouth on her breast. Then, Kent forced her head down toward his crotch.

As McBroom struggled, Kent kept telling the married mother of three what he wanted to do to her in words too graphic to publish. The papers fell to the floor. The pet bulldog Kent kept in his chambers began to bark.

The incident was interrupted by the sound of footsteps from another staff member in the corridor, and the judge loosened his grip. As she left, the judge said McBroom was a good case manager and then made suggestions about engaging in a sexual act.

McBroom ran out crying.

Reports of the incident

Later that day, McBroom called her childhood friend, Charlene Clark , a San Antonio schoolteacher. Close as sisters, the two spoke nearly every day.

Clark recently told Mc-Broom's story to the Chronicle in an exclusive interview corroborated by other sources, including McBroom's mother, Mary Ann Schopp, and Felicia Williams, a retired court employee who previously worked as the judge's case manager and is McBroom's friend.

"It was very physical, " Clark said. " If he hadn't been a judge, she would have gone to the police, and he would have been put in jail."

McBroom, Williams and at least three other women later gave statements to 5th Circuit investigators regarding Kent's alleged abuse of employees.

Judge Edith H. Jones, chief judge for the 5th Circuit, has refused comment on the investigation, referring the Chronicle to the reprimand, which includes no specifics.

On the Monday after the March 23 incident, McBroom put all the details of her allegations in a written request for immediate transfer to Houston, where she still works. In May, she filed a formal complaint against Kent.

McBroom had worked for Kent as his case manager since September 2002, when he fired his previous case manager, Williams.

Other allegations

Williams, who had worked for Kent from 1993 to 2002, said her firing came days after she apparently offended the judge with a comment she'd made about his arriving late for a hearing, though she says she was given no official reason at the time.

Williams told the Chronicle that over the years she frequently had seen Kent appear inebriated at work after long lunches with lawyer friends, was regularly asked for "hugs" and subjected to lewd remarks.

The judge said he could "service me when my husband was being treated for prostate cancer," Williams said. "He told me sexual dirty jokes, and (I) was expected to listen to his rude comments regarding other people."

Williams said she never told co-workers or even her husband about most of the comments out of loyalty to the judge — and out of fear that he would retaliate.

"I need to relay how Cathy and I felt threatened due to (Kent's) power and authority and were always concerned about our positions and knew we could be dismissed at a moment's notice," Williams said. "Since (I) no longer work for him, I feel more comfortable talking but will always feel the emotional pain."

Williams later worked at the federal courthouse in Houston until her retirement in 2006 with 33 years of U.S. government service.

McBroom, who replaced Williams, became her friend.

According to women who have spoken to the Chronicle, the first incidents of alleged harassment and unwanted physical contacts with female court employees began about a decade ago.

In fact, when McBroom reported the first incident to her supervisor in 2003, the supervisor told McBroom that other female employees had problems with the judge making dirty remarks or attempting to touch or kiss them, according to Clark and to McBroom's mother.

Though McBroom took her orders from the judge as his case manager, she also reported to a supervisor in the Galveston clerk's office.

The supervisor, who still works for Kent, did not return phone calls or respond to a note left at her home.

'Talked incredibly crudely'

Just a couple of months earlier, in January 2003, the Southern District of Texas had adopted a policy against sexual harassment. The policy, which is still in effect, says workplaces should be free of "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature" when that conduct affects employment or creates an "intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment." The same policy promises no "retaliation" against those who complain.

A spokesman for the 5th Circuit, Joseph St. Amant, said he could provide no details about how, or whether, the policy was enforced in McBroom's case.

Between 2003 and 2007, McBroom experienced about 15 to 20 other incidents of alleged harassment, five involving improper touching, according to Clark and another source.

"He talked incredibly crudely when he was under the influence," Clark said. "He described sex acts. ... "

Typing out her account

Still, the incident in March was unexpected. For days afterward, McBroom shut down, stayed at her mother's house, missed her son's birthday party, and tried to decide what to do, Clark and McBroom's mother both said.

McBroom typed a detailed account of what happened into her mother's computer but initially decided against going to the police.

"When she gave it to me to read, I was just completely shocked and I could not believe it happened," Schopp, Mc-Broom's mother, said. "It was so traumatic it really has affected her in ways you can't even imagine."

On May 21, McBroom filed an internal judicial conduct complaint against Kent. On Sept. 28, a formal reprimand was issued.

A month later, on Oct. 25, Kent was formally reassigned to Houston. The decision meant that for the first time in decades no federal judge would be assigned full time to Galveston.

Kent remains on a leave of absence but has continued to draw his $165,000 annual salary. If nothing changes, he'll return to the bench in January. His current reassignment in Houston requires a 70-mile roundtrip commute from his home in Santa Fe.

The U.S. attorney, who appears to have jurisdiction over crimes alleged to occur in a federal courthouse, has taken no action. Several members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee have called for an investigation into whether Kent should be impeached.

Hardin, McBroom's attorney, said the "5th Circuit judicial authorities have done all that they believe is appropriate. Now it's up to the criminal and congressional officials. We are going to cooperate fully with both institutions."

Harvey Rice contributed to this report.

lise.olsen@chron.com