Embattled Kent resigns, effective Tuesday Judge Kent resigns amid impeachment proceedings

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent resigned via an unusual no-frills letter that he hand-delivered in prison to two Senate officials who had come to serve a summons on him as part of ongoing impeachment proceedings in U.S. Congress.

The resignation of Kent, a convicted felon who had continued to collect his $174,000-a-year salary in prison, was announced to the surprised participants at the first meeting of the Senate’s impeachment trial committee Thursday afternoon in Washington. The committee is chaired by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who announced Kent had handed in a resignation, effective Tuesday, on plain paper to the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms during a prison visit.

Kent had earlier offered to resign in mid-2010 — a move that angered U.S. House officials, who quickly voted to impeach him rather than let him collect his salary for the first year of his 33-month sentence. He could be removed from office only after a trial in the U.S. Senate.

Kent pleaded guilty earlier this year to obstruction of justice and admitted to sexually molesting two women who worked for him when he served as the federal judge in Galveston.

One-sentence note

When Senate officials showed up at the Devens Federal Medical Center in Massachusetts on Wednesday afternoon, Kent gave them a one-sentence resignation. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who served as one of the House managers for Kent’s impeachment, told the Chronicle on Thursday that he was “pleased to learn that Judge Kent has resubmitted his resignation, this time effective on June 30, 2009.”

“Kent’s realization that we would not allow him to take advantage of the system proves that the system works and justice has been served,” Sensenbrenner said. “I hope this process reminds other judges that they are not above the laws they took an oath to uphold. I hope the women Mr. Kent assaulted will find some closure in this man being behind bars and no longer being able to serve on the bench or collect a taxpayer-funded paycheck.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said that the letter of resignation would be delivered to the president and a certified copy would go to the House of Representatives.

End of an ‘ordeal’

In a separate statement, House impeachment managers and Senate leaders said that after the president accepts Kent’s resignation, first the House of Representatives and then the Senate would determine what — if any — further action is necessary.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., the lead House manager said: “Judge Kent’s conduct undermined the institution of the Judiciary and the public’s confidence. … Regrettably, impeachment was necessary to secure his removal from office, but I believe his resignation, when accepted by the president, will obviate the need to put his victims through any further ordeal.”

Terry Yates, a Houston attorney for Donna Wilkerson, a legal secretary who was one of Kent’s victims, said his client was happy she would not have to face a trial in the Senate and be forced to publicly tell her story again.

Rusty Hardin, a lawyer who represented Cathy McBroom, Kent’s former case manager who first blew the whistle on his abuse in 2007, said the resignation brought an end to a long ordeal for both women.

“I’m glad Kent finally did the decent thing and spared them from having to testify before the Senate. … I’m happy and I’m surprised,” Hardin said.

lise.olsen@chron.com