By Florida Bill One Democratic member of the House of Representatives has credentials as a genuine expert on the subject of impeachment. He gave it his all in the House's partisan effort to take down President Trump, but the Senate had other ideas and on February 5 found him not guilty of a long list of make believe charges against him.
On the side of his Democratic colleagues, bug-eyed Adam Schiff and Schiff's hypocritical partner, "Fat Jerry" Nadler, was 83-year-old Alcee Lamar Hastings who has been elected to Congress 14 times from his 20th Congressional district in South Florida, and is a senior member and vice-chairman on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Hastings' call for and expertise on impeaching the President flows from his activities in the l980s when he, himself, a federal judge appointed by President Carter, was impeached for bribe taking and dishonesty by Congress and booted from the bench. But the disgrace, disbarment and appellation of being a thief, did not slow down the smooth talking, skirt chasing, silver tongued Hastings from embarking on a change of professions and a new political career. But, hey, that's the way it goes when Democrats give the green light.
Hastings was a busy attorney and a contributor to Democrat causes when President Carter nominated him to be a United States District judge. His appointment sailed through the Senate and he promptly picked up a gavel and went to work. He became the first African American Federal judge in the state of Florida.
Federal judges in the USA have a special aura about them. Unlike jurists in the state systems where judges are elected, federal judges answer to no one, and are appointed for life. It is virtually impossible for federal judges to be removed from the bench because of controversial rulings. The only way to remove a federal judge is impeachment by Congress, and that has happened only six times in American history. Hastings was the last and his incredible rebound is one for the history books.
In 1989, the People's House brought charges against Hastings for trying to sneak some $150,000 in bribe money into his pocket. After much controversy and various types of litigation, the impeachment by the House went forward and in 1989, Senators found him guilty of bribery and high crimes and ordered his removal from the bench. Hastings was removed from the federal bench because he was dishonest, but the senate failed to provide in its finding of guilt that he should be barred from ever holding any other federal office. Hastings impeachment and ouster from the federal bench by Congress was subsequently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Hastings epitomizes the Latin phrase of "Sui Generis" which means only one of its kind. He attained that distinction because he is the only federal judge impeached by the House of Representatives, and now sits as a member of that chamber. Along with his credentials as a U.S. congressman, he has garnered praise from Speaker Pelosi who made him a permanent member of the select House committee on Intelligence.
After expulsion from the federal bench and disbarment as an attorney, Hastings promptly ran for Florida Secretary of State, but lost. The following year, 1992, he ran for Congress and was elected in a predominantly African American district by a close margin after he accused his white opponent of being a "racist bitch." He brought to the People's House a fiery rhetorical style and a penchant for controversy. He became a favorite of Speaker Pelosi and she was prepared to appoint him as the chairman of the select committee on intelligence, but then backed away from that plan following complaints that citizens did not want a "crook" in that spot.
Several years ago as the "MeToo" movement was gathering steam, it was revealed that Hastings was being sued by a woman who had been on his staff for targeting her for sexual favors. Hastings found a way to settle the matter by having a special House fund pay her $220,000. Republicans and others objected to the misuse of the money supplied by american taxpayers, but promises of a full investigation of his conduct never materialized.
After President Trump took office, Hastings was among Democratic congressman who declined to stand for the President at his swearing in and later displayed his displeasure and refused to applaud during Trump's state of the union messages. The nattily-dressed congressman is garrulous and friendly and is said to have snake-oil charm and skill in peddling his medicine of choice. Inside the 435-member House of Representatives, he is now part of the Democratic leadership, sitting as a senior member of the House Rules committee; and as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Congressional Black Caucus.
Money seems to remain a necessary goal of Hastings, as it was when, in his black robes, he was accused of granting leniency in exchange for money. He is reported to have a net worth of nearly five million dollars, yet, a few years ago, he was in the forefront of congressmen demanding an increase in their annual $174,000 salary. The demand fostered an uproar and the ex-judge was castigated for his "arrogance" and "insensitivity." One man observed that with the country's shaky economy and a median American household income of $51,000 a year, the congressional cry of poverty over a $174,000 salary is grossly misplaced. The Wall Street Journal took issue with the congressman's poor mouthing, and pointed out in an article that Hastings spent $25,000 in one year--2008--to lease a luxury car.
Hastings has employed his girl friend on his staff and she has been paid several million dollars since 2000. In 2012, Judicial Watch, a nonpartisan government watchdog organization, reported that Rep. Hastings was Congress' number one practitioner of Nepotism on Capitol Hill, having paid Ms. Patricia Williams $622,000 between 2007 and 2010. Hastings did not quibble about the amount of her earnings, but argued that since she was a girl friend, and not a family member, it did not equate to "nepotism." Williams had served as his counsel and companion during his trial and impeachment problems, and the generous staff salary helps with his relationship and maybe an unpaid legal fee. Williams' annual salary was reported as $168,000.
With all of his history as a dishonest federal district judge and his congressional maneuverings for money, Hastings remains popular with Democrats and the liberal media, and is endorsed and re-elected regularly. Still, with his history and unique "credentials," it seems like he should "zip it." He is the last person to be criticizing President Trump. for being corrupt and dishonest.
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