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Michigan Lawmakers Pushing for Impeachment Hearings Against Gov. Whitmer

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Michigan Lawmakers Pushing for Impeachment Hearings Against Gov. Whitmer
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces new restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Lansing, Mich., on Nov. 15, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP)
Zachary Stieber
11/17/2020
Updated:
11/17/2020

A group of lawmakers in Michigan are working on launching impeachment hearings against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has frustrated constituents with the harsh orders she’s made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Matt Maddock, a Republican, said that “a growing list of Legislators are calling forthwith for impeachment hearings for Governor Whitmer.”

Maddock, in a Facebook post, accused the governor of impeachable conduct including ignoring court orders, violating Michiganders’ constitutional rights, and weaponizing contact tracing databases to aid Democrat campaigns.
With the decision on Sunday to impose new rules, including a ban on indoor gatherings of more than two households and a three-week prohibition on in-person high school and college classes, Whitmer “has crossed the line,” Maddock said in a separate statement.

“The list of violations is long and the call is overdue,” he said.

Maddock named five state representatives and two state senators who support holding impeachment hearings, along with three representative-elects.

Stephen Carra, who won a race for a state House seat in the Nov. 3 election, told The Epoch Times that there’s a real possibility that Whitmer will be impeached.

Carra noted that a simple majority vote is required to impeach the governor in the Republican-held House but a two-thirds vote is required to convict the governor of whatever charges she’s impeached on in the state Senate.

In that vote at least three Democrats need to cross the aisle, even if all Republicans voted.

“There have been some Democrats who have voiced reservations with Gov. Whitmer making unilateral decisions,” Carra said.

A person wearing a mask votes at Jefferson Elementary School in Sterling Heights, Mich., on Nov. 3, 2020. (Elaine Cromie/Getty Images)
A person wearing a mask votes at Jefferson Elementary School in Sterling Heights, Mich., on Nov. 3, 2020. (Elaine Cromie/Getty Images)

The others named by Maddock didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Whitmer’s orders prompted some sheriffs in her state to announce they wouldn’t enforce them.

Michigan’s Supreme Court in October struck down the orders and about two weeks later immediately canceled the mandates, ruling against an appeal from Whitmer.

Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield at the time said “the law is the law, and partisan politics can’t change that” before encouraging Whitmer to work with lawmakers.

Whitmer told reporters on Monday that she had the authority to issue the new restrictions, despite the Michigan Supreme Court rulings.

In response to the efforts to impeach Whitmer, her spokeswoman told news outlets: “Governor 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. Right now, she is focused on saving lives.”

“The governor will continue to work hard for all 10 million Michiganders. This is about Michigan vs. COVID-19. Governor Whitmer doesn’t care if you’re a Trump Republican or a Biden Democrat. We are all in this together,” the spokeswoman added.