Judiciary Committee Leaders Call for Investigation of Judge
Leaders of the House Judiciary Committee are calling for an investigation into the conduct of U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous, accused of perjury and taking money from lawyers who appeared before him.
The committee could form a task force as early as tomorrow to investigate the accusations leveled by the Judicial Council of the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. “We believe this matter merits a full investigation,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich.
After a probe, the Judiciary Committee would recommend whether to proceed with impeachment. The House would vote on any impeachment recommendation from the committee, and the Senate would try the judge.
The judicial council reprimanded Porteous last week and released documents from its investigation. The council said Porteous committed perjury by filing financial disclosure forms that concealed cash and other things of value he solicited and received from lawyers appearing before him. It also said he perjured himself by signing false statements in his personal bankruptcy that hid gambling and other debts.
