A resolution for impeachment against Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer was introduced on Wednesday by three Republican members of Michigan’s House of Representatives following the state’s plan to enforce new, strict coronavirus-related restrictions.
“Today I introduced Articles of Impeachment against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,” Representative Beau LaFave posted on his social media account on Wednesday.
“The four articles of impeachment against Gov. Whitmer include failing to respect the separation of powers by exercising power granted to the legislative branch, violating the constitutional rights of the people of Michigan, issuing executive orders against the interests of the people and state, and using state resources to reward political allies,” he continued.
Representatives LaFave, Matt Maddock, and Daire Rendon issued the resolution saying that the state’s governor is guilty of “corrupt conduct in office and crimes and misdemeanors” after she and the Department of Health and Human Services issued a three-week order limiting indoor social gatherings beginning Wednesday – just in time to interfere with the Thanksgiving holiday.
Michigan has seen an increase in coronavirus cases that is equal to four times the number of daily cases seen when the pandemic first began in March. There have been more than 303,000 cases reported so far and more than 8,500 deaths in the state.
This extreme response by Governor Whitmer was initiated by her and state health officials who say they instated the “Pause to Save Lives” order which banned indoor restaurant and bar dining, as well as limiting residential gatherings during the Thanksgiving holiday to two households at a time because of the increase in COVID numbers in Michigan.
Unfortunately, not all of Michigan’s Republican Party concurs with the call for impeachment of the governor, though. Michigan House Speaker, Rep. Lee Chatfield, (R), called the move a “distraction from the real things we have to get done in our state.”
“We’re not the party that impeaches someone because we’re upset with policies that they’ve enacted,” he told a local news channel. “I thought it was shameful what the Democrats did to President Trump last year, and I would I would assume that any attempt by Republicans right now, with the current set of facts that we have to impeach the governor, would be on the same level.”
Though he and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said they were frustrated about the partial shutdown ordered by the governor, they were still looking to work together in a “bipartisan way.”
“As always, we stand ready to act in a bipartisan way when the governor decides it is worth her time. Until then, we are still reviewing the details of this order like everyone else,” Chatfield said Sunday.
