Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar urged Chief U.S. District Judge Edward W. Nottingham Jr. on Friday to resign, a day after allegations surfaced that he tried to get a former prostitute to lie to investigators about paying her for sex.
Nottingham called in sick to work last week and his six-day criminal trial was taken over by another judge.
A source close to the judge says he is contemplating resignation, but the clerk of the U.S. District Court in Colorado had not received a notification from Nottingham or the White House of a resignation by Friday evening.
If a federal judge resigns, the judge must notify the White House first. Calls to the White House inquiring about Nottingham were not returned Thursday and Friday.
Nottingham and his attorney did not return calls for comment Friday.
9News reported that a former prostitute from an escort service filed a complaint against Nottingham with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals last week that he asked her to lie about how they met and that he paid her for sex.
The court was already investigating Nottingham on other ethical complaints involving strippers, escorts, and an argument he had with a woman in a wheelchair over a handicapped parking spot.
Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Colorado, and Kathleen Wright, spokeswoman for the Denver office of the FBI, both said they could neither confirm nor deny that a criminal investigation of the judge is underway.
Salazar issued his statement Friday.
“On the bench, Chief Judge Edward Nottingham has been one of the most skillful jurists I have known. I am saddened by the allegations,” Salazar said. “I do believe that the United States District Court needs a fresh start and, therefore, his resignation would be in the best interest of the court.”
Republican Sen. Wayne Allard had no comment.
Nottingham, 60, is best-known for presiding over the insider-trading trial of former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
