Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) died Tuesday morning following a two-year battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
“For much of the ensuing two years, he continued public appearances between medical treatments, but more recently he hadn’t been in public,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. “In recent days, he had been in hospice care.”
The report noted that Hastings, before winning more than a dozen congressional elections, was impeached and removed from office when he was a federal judge. Left-wing local media called Hastings a “crusading civil rights lawyer.”
The report added:
In 1981, Hastings was indicted on charges of conspiring to solicit a $150,000 bribe from an FBI agent posing as a racketeer trying to buy his way out of a prison sentence. In 1983, Hastings’ criminal trial ended when the jury found him not guilty.
Six years later, Congress took up the issue. Concluding he lied during the criminal trial, the House impeached Hastings and the Senate convicted him on eight of 11 articles, removing him from the bench. The Senate did not vote to disqualify him from holding future office.
Immediately following the start of the #MeToo movement in 2017, it was revealed that the United States Treasury Department paid $220,000 to settle sexual misconduct claims against Hastings that were made by a staff member. In 2019, it was revealed that Hastings was under investigation over an alleged relationship with another staffer — which is prohibited under House rules.
In a statement, the House Ethics Committee wrote:
The Committee is aware of public allegations arising out of Representative Alcee Hastings’ personal relationship with an individual employed in his congressional office. On May 14, 2019, the Committee, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), began an investigation regarding the allegations. The Committee is specifically considering whether Representative Hastings’ relationship with the individual employed in his congressional office is in violation of House Rule XXIII, clause 18(a), and whether Representative Hastings has received any improper gifts, including any forbearance, from that employee. The Committee continues to gather additional information regarding the allegations.
Hastings’ seat will be filled by a special election, the date of which will be determined by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Hastings’ district, Florida’s 20th Congressional District, is an overwhelmingly Democrat district and, barring a historic political upset, will be filled by a Democrat. “President Joe Biden won 79.8% of the 2020 presidential vote in the district, reported Matthew Isbell, Democratic data analyst with MCI Maps,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported separately. “In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 79.8%.”
Top Democrats put out statements remembering Hastings following the news of his passing.
“Rep. Alcee Hastings has departed us for that great assembly in Heaven,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said. “He taught me a lot about public service and life. Rep. Hastings loved the people he served and championed the plight of the least, the lost and the left behind. May he forever Rest in Power.”
Rep. Alcee Hastings has departed us for that great assembly in Heaven.
He taught me a lot about public service and life.
Rep. Hastings loved the people he served and championed the plight of the least, the lost and the left behind.
May he forever Rest in Power 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾. pic.twitter.com/011pgC4nhF
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) April 6, 2021
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) tweeted: “Beginning as a civil rights attorney and continuing through nearly 30 years in Congress, Alcee Hastings fought to make our country a kinder, fairer place, particularly for Black men and women. My thoughts are with his wife, Patricia, and their family during this time of grief.”
Beginning as a civil rights attorney and continuing through nearly 30 years in Congress, Alcee Hastings fought to make our country a kinder, fairer place, particularly for Black men and women.
My thoughts are with his wife, Patricia, and their family during this time of grief.
— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) April 6, 2021
Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) tweeted: “U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings served his constituents as a civil rights attorney, judge, and Dean of our Congressional delegation. He changed the face of politics in FL and brought passion & unwavering dedication to the fight for justice. We are forever grateful for a life well lived.”
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings served his constituents as a civil rights attorney, judge, and Dean of our Congressional delegation. He changed the face of politics in FL and brought passion & unwavering dedication to the fight for justice. We are forever grateful for a life well lived. pic.twitter.com/K9mMhAYwrw
— Rep. Val Demings (@RepValDemings) April 6, 2021
This report has been updated to include additional information.