Congressmen voted late on Friday 52 in favour, 52 against with one abstention
to reject the charges against Jordan, who was accused of overstepping his
authority in three drugtrafficking cases.

Deputies from the rightist Independent Democratic Union (UDI), who brought
the charges against the judge in early July, said they were satisfied with
the narrow vote.

``According to the rules, the case is rejected by the draw, but the signs are
very clear to the whole country,'' said UDI deputy Carlos Bombal who led the
charges against Jordan.

``From now on, an important issue has come into debate the alleged
penetration of narcotraffickers in the courts.''

Although Jordan has been cleared of the charges, many observers say his
reputation has been so damaged by the case that he will eventually be forced
to resign.

Jordan was accused of trying to slow down prosecution of the accused leader
of a money laundering ring in custody and awaiting trial.

In another case, he was one of five judges who ordered the release on bail in
1991 of an alleged Colombian cocaine trafficker in Santiago without the man's
lawyer filing a bail request.

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