Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is hit with impeachment resolution for 'corrupt conduct' and 'exceeding authority' in her handling of pandemic - but key GOP leaders oppose the effort
Three Republican members of Michigan’s House of Representatives introduced a bid to impeach Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday, accusing her of 'corrupt conduct in office' and 'exceeding her constitutional authority' for her coronavirus restrictions.
The resolution was introduced by GOP Reps. Beau LaFave, Matt Maddock and Daire Rendon.
However, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield rejected the effort.
'With the current set of facts that we’re living under right now, the current impeachment resolution will not have any proceeding on the House floor,' Chatfield said Wednesday, according to The Detroit News.
He called the move a 'distraction from the real things we have to get done in our state.'
'I have not signed on to any notion of impeachment proceedings,' Shirkey said Tuesday.
Whitmer’s spokesperson Tiffany Brown said on the resolution: 'Gov. Whitmer doesn’t have any time for partisan politics or people who don’t wear masks, don’t believe in science and don’t have a plan to fight this virus.'
Three Republican members of Michigan’s House of Representatives introduced a bid to impeach Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday, accusing her of 'corrupt conduct in office' and 'exceeding her constitutional authority' for her coronavirus restrictions
The resolution was introduced by GOP Rep. Beau LaFave, along with Reps Matt Maddock and Daire Rendon. The resolution says: 'The state constitution does not permit the Governor to bypass the legislative process nor does it empower her to unilaterally make or amend laws for the protection of public health'
Rep. LaFave announced the resolution featuring four articles accusing Whitmer of '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.'
The bid further accuses Whitmer of being guilty of 'corrupt conduct in office and crimes and misdemeanor' after she and the department of Health and Human Services issued a three-week order limiting indoor social gatherings which take effect Wednesday.
The resolution contends she 'exceeded her constitutional authority' and 'issued orders that are not in the best interests of people of this state.'
'The state constitution does not permit the Governor to bypass the legislative process nor does it empower her to unilaterally make or amend laws for the protection of public health,' it says, referring to her COVID-19 restrictions.
The resolution was referred to the Government Operations Committee.
The resolution was introduced by GOP Rep. Beau LaFave (left), Matt Maddock (center) and Daire Rendon (right)
The move for impeachment comes after Whitmer and the department of Health and Human Services issued a three-week order limiting indoor social gatherings which take effect Wednesday. Today the state has more than 303,000 confirmed and probable cases and more than 8,500 confirmed and probable deaths
The new 'Pause to Save Lives' order closed indoor dining at restaurants and bars and limited residential gatherings to two households at a time to avoid the spread of COVID-19 throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.
The new order comes as Michigan reels from a troubling spike in coronavirus cases.
The Midwestern state has reported four times the number of daily cases first reported during the spring spike.
Today the state has more than 303,000 confirmed and probable cases and more than 8,500 confirmed and probable deaths.
The state's positivity rate is 13.8 percent.
Even though prominent Republicans in Michigan have opposed the bid, they too have been frustrated with the governor’s shutdown.
'We’re not the party that impeaches someone because we’re upset with policies that they’ve enacted,' Chatfield said to Michigan Live.
Registered nurse Kim Alder, left, records vital signs for patient Summer Tully, of Muskegon, inside the Hackley Community Care COVID-19 triage room in Muskegon Heights, Michigan on Friday
A doctor in Detroit takes off his white coat as he displays signs encouraging people to vote on behalf of protecting the public's health on October 31
'I thought it was shameful what the Democrats did to President Trump last last year, and 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 Chatfield and Shirkey voiced anger with Whitmer for ordering the partial shutdown on her own they said they still want to work 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.
Under the Michigan Constitution the state House can impeach officers for corrupt conduct in office or for crimes or misdemeanors but it requires a majority vote with two-thirds of the Senate support.
However, that’s unlikely in this case as Democrats control 42 percent of the seats in the state Senate.
Whitmer was elected with 53 percent support in 2018 and she has received praise from public health experts for her strong actions to curb the pandemic.
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