Senate Takes Up Impeachment Of Louisiana Judge

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate is beginning the final stage of the impeachment trial of a Louisiana judge accused of corruption.

The rare trial in the chamber could make G. Thomas Porteous just the eighth federal judge to be removed from the bench. The House voted unanimously in March to bring four articles of impeachment against him. A two-thirds Senate vote is needed to convict.

House prosecutors say Porteous had a gambling problem and began accepting cash and other favors from attorneys and bail bondsmen doing business before his court.

Defense lawyers have sought to portray his behavior as business as usual in the New Orleans-area legal community.

The Senate is planning to hear closing arguments Tuesday and vote Wednesday.