(Thumbnail Image: The Times-Picayune)

BY TRACY PFEIFFER

In the first Senate impeachment trial in decades, proceedings for U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous are underway.  Porteous is accused of unethical behavior, including accepting kickbacks and bribes.  

We’re analyzing coverage from The National Review, WWL, the Times-Picayune, and The National Law Journal.

This is the first impeachment trial since President Bill Clinton in 1999, and if convicted, Porteous will be the eighth federal judge to be impeached in U.S. history. A writer for the National Review outlines the accusations against Porteous:

“Porteous admitted to receiving gifts, expensive meals and liquor, cash payments, and home and car repairs from a local law firm and bonding firm... The gifts included paying for trips to Las Vegas and for the bachelor party of the judge’s son.”

The House of Representatives voted unanimously to impeach Porteous in March.

In a pre-trial statement, Porteous’ lawyers said most of the alleged misconduct occurred while he was a state judge and should not be used to remove him from a federal judgeship.  And in a report from WWL, one of his lawyers and an expert witness say he didn’t actually do anything wrong:

TURLEY: “Whether it was a lunch or a gift, none of these violated state ethics rules in Louisiana or in any other state.”
CIOLINO: “The lunches, the fishing trips, the hunting trips were not illegal and unethical under the laws as they existed back in the early 90's.”

But an editorial for the Times-Picayune says, even if the bulk of the charges come from his days as a state judge in Louisiana, Porteous continued to behave unethically in his rise to a federal position.

“...in order to be confirmed nominees are asked under oath whether they have done anything that would render them unfit for a federal judgeship.... Porteous, having no integrity, was not about to admit he had no integrity. His failure to reveal his sins at the state level provided one more reason for his impeachment.”

Finally, an article in the National Law Journal outlines yet another argument from the defense, who say Porteous’ impeachment proceedings are an attempt for the Senate to save face.

“According to defense filings, the FBI and the Senate knew of many of the allegations against Porteous before senators voted to confirm him. Notes contained in his FBI file said that Porteous ‘is living beyond his means and this might mean that he is involved in some type of criminal activity.’”

The Senate requires a two-thirds vote for impeachment.  If convicted, Porteous will be removed from the bench and lose his government pension.