Eleanor Ross, the embattled U.S. federal judge, caught having sex with a police officer in chambers during work hours, has apologised to a clerk in her office over her behaviour.
In a letter dated June 11, addressed to a clerk whose name was redacted, Mrs Ross admitted her behaviour was harmful, unprofessional and offensive.
She said, “I am writing to you for a second time to convey my deepest apologies for my harmful, offensive, and unprofessional behaviour that made your clerkship an unpleasant experience.
“My initial letter was entirely deficient, as I did not take full accountability for my actions, and I failed to give you the apology that you deserve.”
The judge who had come under intense public criticism and was called to resign admitted her “actions were patently wrong, and there is no excuse. You deserved better than to have your experience marred by my own offensive conduct.”
She added, “I apologise for not affording you an opportunity to serve the public in a professional atmosphere where everyone was always treated with respect and courtesy. I also want to convey my deepest apologies to you for my false accusation against you. Again, I have no excuse and immensely regret my behaviour.”
Mrs Ross is now facing an impeachment threat after the report by a judicial panel exposing her sex-in-chambers scandal with a top police officer was published.
The man who had sex with Mrs Ross in the courthouse during business hours was identified as an Atlanta Police Department deputy chief, Kelley Collier.
The Atlanta Police Department has also opened an investigation into a judicial report accusing one of its cops of having sex with a federal judge in the courthouse during work hours.
The U.S. lawmakers are also reportedly making moves to impeach Mrs Ross for her misconduct.
Rep. Clay Fuller already filed an article of impeachment against Mrs Ross earlier in the week.
Only fifteen federal judges have been impeached in U.S. history. The most recent case of a federal judge impeached was over a decade ago, in 2010.
Mrs Ross risks becoming the 16th federal judge impeached in U.S. history if lawmakers push through with the impeachment process.
