Another Charming Louisiana Politician Looks Justice in the Eye

This charmer is U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous.  It's been nearly eight years since Porteous, a 1994 Clinton appointee, first came under investigation in the FBI's "Wrinkled Robe" probe.  There is ample evidence to warrant kicking his sorry corrupt butt off the bench, including damning testimony about kick-back schemes from his cronies who pleaded out, and proof that he made false statements in his own personal bankruptcy proceedings. 

Porteous has been on a "voluntary suspension" with pay (a tidy little sum of $170,000 per year!), and prohibited from hearing cases or hiring anyone, since September 10, 2008.  Yep -- he's been cooling his heels for more than 2 years now, doing little more than think about his defense and collect his checks.  The ultimate in redistributing wealth, one might conjecture.

Fortunately, the Fifth Circuit heeded a heads up that the Suspension was about to expire and issued an Order on September 8th extending its efficacy until the end of the year.  But just until the end of the year.

The House of Representatives issued Articles of Impeachment way back in March, accusing Porteous of High Crimes and Misdemeanors "in a pattern of conduct that is incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him as a federal judge."  Today, a 12-member Senate Impeachment Trial Committee will begin a 5-day trial on the charges, ultimately sending a summary to the floor upon which the entire Senate will vote as jury, needing a 2/3 vote to convict.   There have been only 19 formal impeachment proceedings in the history of the United States, 14 of which were of federal judges.

What, you might ask, can the good judge possibly posit as a defense to such heinous allegations?

So far, it appears that his trial team will focus on the fact that most of the shenanigans cited in the Articles of Impeachment occurred while he sat on a state bench, prior to his elevation to federal court, and that he's never been officially charged with those crimes for which his buddies are currently serving time.

Doesn't that just make his benefactor, Slick Willie Clinton, (also the subject of Impeachment) look like an amateur at parsing the English language?

From the lightning-fast pace the case has assumed thus far, it's looking like the lame-duck full Senate won't hold its hearing until after the mid-terms.  They'd better get on the stick before the good judge gets in enough time to enter into his planned retirement at full salary.  I can imagine little that is less nauseating than the prospect of paying this guy $170 grand a year (plus COLAs) out of tax dollars for the rest of his worthless life.

And they'd better grow a set and dole out justice, unlike their predecessors did with former perjuring-John-in-Chief Clinton.  Failing to do so might set off a maelstrom that'll dwarf the Tea Party movement.  I envision literal torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers. 

I'd better go start plucking a few chickens, just in case.