Tony Thurmond: “today I am introducing a proposed amendment to the Constitution which would require Federal judges and certain other…”

“today I am introducing a proposed amendment to the Constitution which would require Federal judges and certain other officers of the United States to forfeit their offices upon conviction of a felony. I believe that the citizens of the United States will agree that those who have been convicted of felonies should not be allowed to continue to occupy positions of trust and responsibility in our Government. Nevertheless, under current constitutional law it is possible for certain officers of the United States to continue to receive a salary even after being convicted of a felony. If they are unwilling to resign, the only method which may be used to remove them from the Federal payroll is impeachment, a process which can occupy a great deal of valuable time and resources of the Congress. Currently, the Congress has the power to impeach officers of the Government who have committed treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. However, when a court has found an official guilty of a serious crime, it should not be necessary for Congress to then essentially re-try the official before he or she can be removed from the Federal payroll.”