(Washington, DC) -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi, urging the soon-to-be House Speaker to reject Florida Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings for the chairmanship of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.  Multiple press reports suggest Hastings may assume the chairmanship with Pelosi’s approval when the new Congress convenes in January.
 
Rep. Hastings, the letter notes, is one of only six federal judges to be removed from office through impeachment, and has accumulated “staggering liabilities” ranging from $2,130,006 to $7,350,000.
 
“Any ordinary citizen with Rep. Hastings’ demonstrated record of lack of integrity, ethical misdeeds and financial problems would be denied a security clearance,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton noted in his November 15 letter.  “Respectfully, you should not put our nation’s security at risk by placing Rep. Hastings at the head of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.”
 
On August 3, 1988, the House of Representatives adopted articles of impeachment against then-Judge Hastings.  After a trial, he was convicted by the Senate and removed from office on October 20, 1989, for perjury and conspiracy to obtain a bribe.  As The Washington Post reported in 1989, the Senate found that Hastings “engaged in the bribery conspiracy and repeatedly lied under oath at his [criminal] trial and forged letters in order to win acquittal.”
 
Moreover, according to his most recent financial disclosure statements, Hastings indicated that he has no more than $15,000 in assets while listing millions of dollars in liabilities in the form of legal fees.
 
“That (Hastings) was elected to Congress simply does not mean he meets the high standards that might entitle him to committee leadership posts, let alone ‘select’ committee posts that concern highly secret national security information,” Fitton wrote.  “I am confident there are other members of your caucus who could serve as head of the Committee.”
 
To read a copy of Tom Fitton’s letter to Rep. Pelosi, please visit Judicial Watch’s Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org.
 
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Click here to read JW's letter to Rep. Pelosi.

Click here to read Rep. Hastings Financial Disclosure.