Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan state Republican Beau M. LaFave and three others have filed a resolution for articles of impeachment against Governor Gretchen Whitmer.    “Today I introduced Articles of Impeachment against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. 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,” LaFave said.

Reps. LaFave, Maddock and Rendon offered the following resolution: A resolution directing the impeachment of Gretchen E. Whitmer, Governor of the state of Michigan, for corrupt conduct in office and crimes and misdemeanors.  Whereas, Article XI, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963 states, in part:  The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching civil officers for corrupt conduct in office or for crimes or misdemeanors, but a majority of the members elected thereto and serving therein shall be necessary to direct an impeachment.

Gretchen E. Whitmer, Governor of the state of Michigan, has violated her constitutional oath of office by failing to respect the separation of powers and by exercising powers expressly granted to the legislative branch in the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963. Governor Whitmer, through numerous executive orders, has bypassed the legislative process, refusing to work with the Legislature even when the Legislature has been in session, opting to effectively enact, amend, and repeal laws on her own.

You can read his statement here:

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.
Over the course of eight months, I have watched powerlessly as the governor has used the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to trample over the constitutional rights of Upper Peninsula families and the great people of Michigan. For eight months, the governor has set out on a quest of corruption; exceeding her constitutional duties, disregarding the separation of powers, ignoring the spirit of the Supreme Court ruling, weaponizing the state’s health department, and rewarding political allies.
People are hurting, and it seems as though statewide petitions and costly lawsuits are not sending a strong enough message to the executive office. As pleas of Michigan residents continue to be overlooked and the Legislature remains excluded from the equation, I am left with no other recourse than to exercise my constitutional authority by invoking articles of impeachment against the governor. This is absolutely the last thing I want to do, but I would be betraying my conscience and oath of office to defend the Michigan Constitution by ignoring such blatant misconduct.
Let me be clear. The actions I’m taking aren’t because this virus isn’t real. The surge in COVID-19 cases is something we should take seriously. It’s incredibly important for everyone to listen to the advice of doctors and take personal responsibility to slow the spread of the virus. We should all do our part by choosing to wash our hands frequently, wear a mask and practice social distancing.
I introduced this resolution because the people of Michigan – through their duly elected representatives – deserve a seat at the table when major decisions that impact their lives are made.
My colleagues and I are not looking to throw away all of the governor’s ideas or replace them with our own; we’re simply asking to collaborate, provide input on behalf of our constituents and receive shareable information to increase communication throughout our communities. Michigan residents are better served when their leaders are working together. That’s why the governor’s unilateral and unconstitutional approach must come to an end.