The Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee Chair, Rep. Celina Babauta introduced articles of impeachment against Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Ralph Torres on December 20, with 13 lawmakers sponsoring the resolution.

House Resolution 22-14 outlines six articles of impeachment, including two felony charges, two corruption charges, and two charges of neglect.

A special bipartisan committee with investigative powers was established on December 22 to investigate and has 30 days to submit a report.

Two-thirds of the 20-person House need to vote in favor for the impeachment to proceed, and two-thirds of the Senate will have to vote affirmatively to convict Torres and remove him from office.

The South Dakota Legislature will convene a special session beginning November 9 to debate the impeachment of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

Ravnsborg was charged with two misdemeanors and received no jail time for hitting and killing Joe Boever in September of 2020.

Under the South Dakota Constitution, the Legislature may be convened in special session by the presiding officers of both houses upon the written request of two-thirds of the members of each house.

The Senate voted to proceed last week, and the House has more than the necessary 47 signatures to proceed.

The proclamation sets the special session to immediately follow a special session for redistricting on November 8.

Gov. Kristi Noem has repeatedly called for Ravnsborg’s resignation, but he refused to resign.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Three Republican lawmakers have introduced articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine over his COVID-19 response.

A resolution introduced by Representatives John Becker (Clermont County) and co-sponsors Nino Vitale (Champaign County) and Paul Zeltwanger (Warren County) includes 10 articles of impeachment against DeWine.

The trio allege his handling of the pandemic violated the Ohio and United States Constitution, in addition to several sections of the Ohio Revised Code.

The articles claim DeWine interfered in the primary election and violated the separation of powers by having the Department of Health issue orders outside the scope of its authority.

In order for DeWine to be removed from office, a majority of the House would need to approve the resolution, and then two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote to convict him.

Missouri lawmakers will convene a special legislative session on the evening of May 18 following adjournment of the regular legislative session.

Legislators called the special session to consider impeaching Gov. Eric Greitens. Greitens is refusing to step down despite accusations of sexual and physical abuse and despite felony charges for invasion of privacy and computer data tampering.

The special session is scheduled to last for 30 days. If 82 House members vote to impeach him, the matter goes to the Senate to determine if he will be removed from office.

Lobbying

New York: “Lawyer Tapped as Board of Elections Commissioner Refuses to Give Up Lobbying, Raising Conflict of Interest Concerns” by Erin Durkin for New York Daily News

Ethics

“Trump, Clinton Money Awash in Conflicts of Interest” by Katy O’Donnell for Politico

“Lawmakers Turned Over Gifts After Secretly Funded Trip to Azerbaijan” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Alabama: “Impeachment Investigation of Alabama Governor Begins” by Associated Press for WTVC

Connecticut: “Ethics Panel to Rule If Wade Has Conflict in Anthem-Cigna Merger” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror

Rhode Island: “RI General Assembly Passes Ethics Reform Sponsored by Speaker, Senate President” by Christian Winthrop for Newport Buzz

South Carolina: “SC Supreme Court Hears Wilson-Pascoe Case” by Tim Smith for Greenville News

Elections

“Dozens of GOP Delegates Launch New Push to Halt Donald Trump” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

Rep. Ed Henry has collected enough signatures to formally begin an impeachment investigation against Gov. Robert Bentley.

Bentley has declined to step down amid a political scandal involving allegations of misuse of state funds and an affair with a former political adviser.

A judiciary committee will be established within the next few weeks to examine the merits for impeachment.

Photo of Gov. Robert Bentley by Sutherland Boswell on Wikimedia Commons.

Several Maine lawmakers are considering launching an investigation for impeachment hearings of Republican Gov. Paul LePage. LePage allegedly attempted to wield his influence to push Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves out of a new job at a charter school.

The grounds for impeachment include abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming and possible misuse of public assets. The relationship between LePage and Democrats in the Legislature is already contentious after LePage vowed to veto every piece of Democratic legislation submitted to him.

The Maine Constitution gives the state House of Representatives sole authority to bring an impeachment action. The state Senate would try the action and vote on whether to impeach. Impeachment requires a two-thirds vote of the state Senate.

Photo of Gov. Paul LePage by MattGagnon via Wikimedia Commons.