Impeached federal judge from Texas resigns ahead of Senate trial

Impeached federal judge resigns

WASHINGTON — A federal judge from Texas who was impeached by the House has resigned ahead of his Senate trial.

U.S. District Judge Sam Kent turned over a letter of his resignation to a Senate official who was serving a subpoena on the judge at the Massachusetts prison where he is serving a 33-month prison sentence.

Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri announced the resignation letter at a meeting of a Senate impeachment committee she is heading.

Kent has pleaded guilty to lying to federal judicial investigators about sexually assaulting two women who worked for him.

The House impeached Kent last week, and the Senate had begun work to try him on the articles of impeachment.

Kent’s letter has to go to President Barack Obama.