Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as a result of today's vote on the four Articles of Impeachment against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, the Senate has fulfilled its constitutional duty to remove a threat to the public's trust and confidence in the Federal judiciary. The conduct set forth in the first Article of Impeachment alone justifies the Senate's conviction of Judge Porteous. By coercing his former law partners to participate in a kickback scheme while a state judge, by failing to properly disclose this corrupt relationship when warranted as a federal judge in a recusal hearing and by obtaining further improper cash payments from them while taking their case under advisement, Judge Porteous misdemeaned himself in a manner that is directly contrary to the essential public trust of his office. Federal judges cannot solicit improper gifts, and they certainly cannot lie to litigants who appear before them. The conduct described in the remaining three Articles of Impeachment is, likewise, wholly repugnant to the office of a U.S. judge. Counsel for Judge Porteous argued that the Senate's unprecedented conviction on these counts would weaken the judiciary to political attacks. I do not dismiss these arguments lightly. With only 12 impeachment trials having been completed in our Nation's history, however, novelty of the particular offenses charged is no absolute defense.…”