Political Scene

HOUSE

Lawmakers vote to impeach judge

The House has voted to impeach a federal judge from Louisiana. A House Judiciary Committee task force charged District Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. with a long-standing pattern of corruption.

The first of four impeachment articles was approved 412-0 on Thursday. The second passed 410-0.

The case goes to trial in the Senate, where a two-thirds vote is needed to convict Judge Porteous of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Judge Porteous was accused of taking cash from lawyers and gifts from a bail bondsman; lying to the Senate and the FBI to win confirmation; and making false statements in his bankruptcy proceedings to hide financial problems and gambling debts.

If convicted in the Senate, Judge Porteous would become the eighth federal judge in U.S. history to be impeached and convicted.

SENATE

Reid’s wife, daughter injured in accident

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s wife and daughter were being treated in a hospital Thursday from serious injuries they sustained when their vehicle was rear-ended, a spokesman said.

Mr. Reid left the Senate for the hospital at midafternoon to tend to his wife, Landra, 69, who broke her back and neck in the accident, according to Reid spokesman Jim Manley.

Their adult daughter, Lana, also was injured. Neither woman’s life appeared to be in danger, and both women can feel their extremities, Mr. Manley said.

Other details of the accident were not immediately available.

The Reids were married in 1959. Lana was born two years later, followed by four boys: Rory, Leif, Josh and Key.

WHITE HOUSE

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