Rep. Becker Again Seeks Gov. DeWine’s Impeachment
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the second time this year, state Rep. John Becker has issued articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine.
On Monday, Becker, R-65 Union Township, was joined by fellow GOP state Reps. Nino Vitale, Candice Keller and Paul Zeltwanger in filing 12 articles of impeachment against DeWine, stating he violated state and federal laws by mandating the wearing of masks and ordering businesses closed to curb the spread of COVID-19, NBC News reports.
“We can debate whether these moves have been effective at stopping the spread of the virus. I don’t know if they have,” Becker told NBC News. “What I do know is, he’s done it outside the law.”
In August, Becker, Vitale, Keller and Zeltwanger brought 10 articles of impeachment against DeWine, which were swiftly met with resistance from both parties. At the time, Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken called the introduction of articles “despicable.” DeWine, meanwhile, said Monday that such efforts are “a small number of people out there making a lot of noise. … I just wish they’d go spend some time talking to somebody who suffered through this.”
“My priorities are to keep people safe and to get our economy moving faster,” DeWine said in August when Becker first announced the articles. “If there are others in the legislature who want to spend their time drawing up resolutions and filing articles … I’d just say to them, ‘Have at it.’ ”
Becker’s articles will next head to the House’s Federalism Committee, which he is the chairman of, and if passed through that committee, will head to the House floor. To advance, a majority of the House would need to approve the articles. Then, to remove DeWine from office, two-thirds of the Ohio Senate would need to vote to convict. Republicans control both chambers of the Ohio Statehouse.
Pictured: FILE – In this Dec. 13, 2019, file photo, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks during an interview at the Governor’s Residence in Columbus, Ohio. . (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
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