Jackson-Lee formally request Kent Probe

A member of the House Judiciary Committee this week made a formal request that the committee begin an investigation into sexual-harassment allegations against U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent of Galveston.

Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, wrote a letter Wednesday to Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., asking that an “investigative file” be opened into the Kent affair.

Jackson-Lee also asked that members of the public be allowed to make allegations against Kent to the committee “as they pertain to this case.”

“The chairman is looking at this very seriously and will work with Rep. Jackson-Lee and others on this matter,” a statement from the Judiciary Committee staff said.

Kent was reprimanded in September by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals after The Daily News reported that an employee of the court, Cathy McBroom, complained that he had sexually harassed her by touching her in ways she didn’t want.