VIDEO: Democrats Block Blackburn Resolution Condemning Judge Eleanor Ross’ Gross Misconduct

'The American people deserve federal judges who uphold the highest standards of integrity… not those who turn their chambers into a venue for extramarital affairs.'

'There is no reason any member of this body should object to my resolution today.'

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Democrats blocked U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn's (R-Tenn.) effort to pass a resolution condemning Northern District of Georgia Judge Eleanor Ross' sexual misconduct and subsequent lies to judicial investigators. Excerpts of Senator Blackburn's remarks are below.

Click here to download Senator Blackburn's remarks.

EXCERPTS OF REMARKS

"I'm asking that the Senate speak with a unanimous voice in condemning one of the worst acts of judicial misconduct we have seen in years. Judge Eleanor Ross has been a district judge in the Northern District of Georgia for over a decade, and it's clear that she engaged in conduct that falls beneath the dignity of her high office in the federal judiciary."

"Over the course of two years, Judge Ross engaged in a sexual relationship with a high-ranking official of the Atlanta Police Department. This conduct occurred in her judicial chambers during normal business hours, within earshot of her law clerks."

"Not only did this misconduct create the possibility of an appearance of impropriety, an affair like this also exposed Judge Ross to the possibility of extortion and blackmail."

"In addition to this egregious behavior in her chambers, the special committee also found an equally disturbing act of judicial misconduct: making false statements material to the committee's investigation. Judge Ross told the 11th Circuit's chief judge that she, and I quote, 'never engaged in sexual intercourse in her office nor anywhere else in the courthouse,' end quote."

"Judge Ross' statements to Chief Judge Pryor were patently false. They were knowingly false. We also know that it took Judge Ross nearly two weeks to retract the false statements."

"The American people deserve federal judges who uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism on the bench, not those who turn their chambers into a venue for extramarital affairs."

"There is no reason any member of this body should object to that resolution today."