TPM Muckraker

« previous | MUCK HOME | next »

Indictment: Federal Judge Forced Sex On Subordinate

A federal judge in Texas is facing new charges related to a second alleged incident of sexual abuse.

District Judge Samuel Kent pleaded not guilty in Houston today to federal charges that he sexually abused a female employee and lied to investigators about it, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Kent is accused of forcing an unnamed female employee, in the words of the Chronicle, sourcing the indictment, "to repeatedly 'engage in a sexual act,' including oral sex and using his hands to 'penetrate or attempt to penetrate' her", during 2004.

There's also an alleged coverup. The paper reports that, according to the indictment, Kent falsely told a special investigative committee that "the extent of his unwanted sexual contact with Person B was one kiss and that when told by Person B his advances were unwelcome no further contact occurred."

Kent is already the first ever federal judge to be charged with a federal sex crime. He faces a trial this month on charges that he allegedly abused his former case manager -- a relationship that the married justice's lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, has described as "enthusiastically consensual."

According to the Chronicle, that woman...

...alleged that the judge physically touched her under her clothing twice and often made obscene suggestions during the six years she worked for him. He is charged with abusing McBroom in 2003 and 2007 by fondling her breast and other body parts and by trying to force her head toward his groin.

Kent was the only federal judge in Galveston, Texas, when all the incidents are alleged to have occurred. He has since been transferred to Houston, where he remains on the federal bench.

Another interesting note: DeGuerin, Kemp's lawyer, is a heavy hitter in Texas legal circles who has also represented Tom DeLay -- the former Majority Leader who was indicted in 2005 on charges that he conspired to break Texas election laws -- and Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh.


7 Comments

| Leave a comment
user-pic

Not stated is that he is a Republican nominated by GHW Bush.

user-pic

And most likely, another conservative holier-than-thou Evangelical Christian hypocrite, like his master!

user-pic

Doesn't matter - he's a rich white guy with pricey lawyers so he'll get a slap on the wrist. She'll find it hard to get another job and deal with the trauma for the rest of her life. He may have to stop being a judge, but his rich buddies will set him up financially. She'll never recover financially. That's what passes for justice - always has, read Tess of the D'Ubervilles

user-pic

Just another middle-aged white guy abusing his power.
But yuck.

Something to consider, along the lines of Powkat's comment: There is no woman in her right mind who would subject herself to the scrutiny, pressure, ridicule, and costs—financial, emotional, social, physical—of accusing a federal judge of this kind of thing unless it were true.

Something about this kind of sexual predator (which is what he is, if the allegations are true) is that by this age, there aren't only two women he's done this to. There are only two women—as of now—willing to come forward with their charges.

Depending on how these cases go, the other women who've been subjected to what Kent likely believes are amorous attentions could come forward either in support of the current cases or with their own. I hope this guy gets nailed but good and ends up serving time with his fellow rapists in the Federal Prison system.

user-pic

Obstruction of justice charge 'upped the ante' against Kent

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6199838.html

user-pic

forcing an unnamed female employee, in the words of the Chronicle, sourcing the indictment, "to repeatedly 'engage in a sexual act,'

See, I call that rape. Why can't the Houston Chronicle? For that matter, why can't TPM Muckraker use that word?

user-pic

Unfortunately this person's behavior illustrates a common attitude among the judiciary here in Texas. They feel that they are all-powerful and that therefore they may do whatever they darn well feel like with no repercussions. There is a reason that the Supremes have overturned the Texas Supremes on numerous occasions, but they keep on in their own misanthropic trajectory. There is a distinct lack of common decency, not only in the judiciary, but in the legislature as well. The former (thank all that is holy) speaker, Craddick, is a typical example.

Leave a comment

Advertisement
Please disable your adblocker!
Ads are how we pay the bills!

Subscribe
Tip Line

Josh
Marshall

Bio

Zachary
Roth

Bio

Advertise Liberally
Share
Close Social Web Email

"To" Email Address

Your Name

Your Email Address