Page "Andrew Johnson" Paragraph 71

During the impeachment trial, Representative Benjamin Butler launched an investigation into suspicious and complex activities surrounding certain Senators, whose votes would either convict or acquit President Johnson.

According to the historian David O. Stewart, Cornelius Wendell led an acquittal committee, which met in the Astor House in New York ; it collected a bribery fund of up to $ 150, 000 to influence Senators into voting for Johnson's acquittal.

Sen. Ross, who was the deciding vote in the Senate, reportedly received a bribe of $ 20, 000 to acquit Johnson.

Senators Ross, Henderson, and Fowler, were most suspected of taking bribe money.

Butler's investigation was tainted by the rumor that Butler paid Wendell $ 100, 000 to testify during the investigation, in order to expose the Astor House acquittal committee.

Many of the men involved with Johnson's acquittal committee were friends of Secretary William Seward, Johnson's strongest ally on his Presidential Cabinet.

There is no evidence that President Johnson knew of any illicit activities.

After his acquittal, Johnson gave Sen. Ross patronage favors, including appointing Ross's friend, Perry Fuller, as collector of the Port of New Orleans.

According to Stewart, there was evidence that gambling interests may have influenced Johnson's impeachment trial.