Hastings . . . Rejected for Chairmanship

by Jonathan Weisman and Peter Slevin - November 29, 2006 - Washington Post

In recent days, [Alcee] Hastings and his allies had launched a spirited campaign to clear his name from the stigma of his impeachment.

[snip]

He pointed repeatedly to his 1983 acquittal by a Miami jury and wrote that it is "amazing how little importance" his critics give that verdict.

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In fact, there is a certain simplicity in the conclusion drawn by an investigating committee of five eminent federal judges, each with strong civil rights credentials. Those judges, and later more than three dozen others, concluded that Hastings lied to the Miami jury as many as 15 times to win acquittal.

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Two federal judges soon filed an administrative complaint, accusing Hastings of conduct prejudicial to the courts, which led to the judicial investigation. John Doar, the chief House Watergate counsel, and a panel of judges investigating the matter said they uncovered substantial new evidence that convinced them that Hastings joined the bribery conspiracy and then fabricated a defense to hoodwink the jury.

[snip]

"Judge Hastings' conduct was premeditated, deliberate and contrived," wrote the committee. . . . .

The fact that keeps being ignored by the MSM is that Hastings was convicted by the Senate. CONVICTIED! Impeached is the same as indicted. However Hastings was not just impeached but convicted for lying at the trial where he won his case in court. He was removed as a judge.

So Hastings was not only guilty of taking bribes, he was guilty of lying in the trial over his bribes. He continues to lie about both situations and attacks his accusers with insults. He calls anyone who brings up either issue a "racist" and a "fool".

What I have to ask is how can this man get elected? The congressional black caucus is adamant that both Alcee Hastings and William Jefferson are upstanding members of their caucus and defends them both. Jefferson was accused of taking a bribe of $100,000, $90,000 of which was found in his freezer. Does the congressional black caucus not care about these crimes? Is the message they wish to send that being black excuses any act?