WASHINGTON — Two women who accused a federal judge of sexually assaulting them detailed the attacks and their fear of him Wednesday before a congressional panel considering impeaching the judge.
Cathy McBroom told lawmakers that U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent — who’s headed to prison in 12 days for lying about the abuses — cornered her in a room near a security guard station after returning drunk from a long lunch.
“He had one arm around my waist and was using the other arm to pull up my blouse and bra, exposing my entire breast,” said McBroom, a 50-year-old former case manager for Kent. “He also tried to force his hand down my skirt.”
That attack happened in 2003, she said. The final assault occurred in 2007, she said. The assaults culminated with the judge pushing McBroom’s head to his crotch and demanding oral sex, she said.
McBroom and Kent’s former secretary, Donna Wilkerson, testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing held to collect evidence that could lead to Kent’s impeachment.
Kent, the first sitting federal judge to face sex abuse charges, was sentenced to 33 months in prison last month and is set to report to prison June 15. He resigned Tuesday effective June 2010 — meaning he’d continue to draw $174,000 a year and benefits until then — but several members of Congress said they want to impeach him to cut off his pay as soon as possible.
As part of a plea deal, Kent admitted he tried to force McBroom into unwanted sex acts in 2003 and 2007, and did the same with Wilkerson from 2004 through at least 2005.
Kent, 59, has been denied his request to retire on disability due to depression — which would have meant full salary for the rest of his life.
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