Georgia Representative Seeks Impeachment of Federal Judge

Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Republican from Georgia, announced on Thursday his intention to pursue the impeachment of a federal judge alleged to have engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with an Atlanta police officer inside a courthouse.

Clyde stated that he is preparing articles of impeachment for Judge Eleanor Ross, who serves on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta and was appointed by President Obama. The allegations suggest that she was involved in sexual activity during working hours as part of an affair with a deputy police officer. Following the incident, she faced disciplinary actions. Reports indicate that these activities may have occurred frequently over a two-year span, prompting the Eleventh Circuit to conduct an internal investigation.

“Her gross misconduct, serious lack of integrity, and blatant impartiality justify impeachment proceedings,” Clyde wrote. “Stay tuned.”

Reports have identified the officer involved as Atlanta Police Department Deputy Chief Kelly Collier. Previous accounts have described their encounters as quite noisy, allowing office staff to overhear the activities taking place.

In speaking about the implications of these allegations, some commentators are suggesting that the focus should not only rest on the scandal itself but also on larger concerns regarding the delegation of power among judicial staff.

Additionally, Judge Ross has previously made headlines for sentencing celebrity couple Todd and Julie Chrisley to lengthy prison terms for fraud and tax evasion, although they were later pardoned by President Trump.

Judge Ross, a graduate of American University and the University of Houston Law Center, received her J.D. in 2014. She is married to DeKalb County State Court Judge Brian Ross.