Klobuchar votes to convict Louisiana federal judge in impeachment proceeding

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Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today convicted U.S. District Court Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., on four articles of impeachment – removing him from office and barring him from again seeking public office.

The Senate convicted Judge Porteous on all counts and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar voted to convict him on all counts. Klobuchar was one of 12 senators appointed to hear evidence and issue a report as part of the Senate Impeachment Trial Committee.

Only 15 federal judges have ever been impeached by the House of Representatives, and only 11 previous impeachment trials have been completed in the 221-year history of the Senate.

“The Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to try all impeachments, and this was the rare day when we were called upon to exercise that power,” Klobuchar said. “The purpose of impeachment is to protect the integrity of our government and public confidence in our judiciary.”

Porteous was accused by the House of Representatives of having committed “high crimes and misdemeanors,” including repeatedly accepting cash gifts totaling $20,000 from the lawyers involved in a case he presided over; allowing two individuals to manipulate bail amounts in exchange for providing him with expensive meals, a trip to Las Vegas and car repairs, using a false name in his bankruptcy filing while concealing debts and gambling losses; and making false statements during his confirmation process.

“When I looked at the evidence, I determined that the judge’s behavior unquestionably undermined public trust in the justice system, and that is why I voted to convict him on each article of impeachment,” Klobuchar said.

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