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- A group of Ohio GOP lawmakers have filed 12 articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine over the state’s coronavirus restrictions, according to the Washington Post.
- The group alleges that the DeWine administration passed unconstitutional orders to further prevent transmission of the virus statewide.
- Representatives John Becker, Nino Vitale, Candice Keller and Paul Zeltwanger described the decision as “an effort to restore the rule of law”.
- DeWine, who instituted a three-week curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on November 19 in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, said: “There are a small number of people doing a lot noise. I just wish they were going to spend time talking to someone who was suffering from it. “
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A group of GOP lawmakers in Ohio have officially filed articles of impeachment against Republican Gov. Mike DeWine over the state’s coronavirus rules, according to the Washington Post.
Representatives John Becker, Nino Vitale, Candice Keller and Paul Zeltwanger filed 12 articles of impeachment against DeWine, with Becker describing the action as “an effort to restore the rule of law”.
The group alleges that the DeWine administration passed unconstitutional orders to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 across Ohio.
In a statement, Becker’s office criticized the governor’s health efforts to combat the virus.
“Governor DeWine’s mismanagement, mischief, misdeeds, abuse of power and other crimes include, but are not limited to, interference in the conduct of a presidential primary election, arbitrary shutdown and Imposition of curfews on some businesses, while allowing other businesses to remain open, ”the statement read. “He armed the Ohio Workers ‘Compensation Office to intimidate and harass businesses and people; to enforce statewide mask warrant and other controversial measures of’ value “questionable, making Ohio a hostile work environment.”
The group claims DeWine violated the civil liberties of Ohio residents by promulgating a stay-at-home order last March and requiring citizens to wear masks when in public.
At a press conference on Nov. 30, DeWine criticized the impeachment efforts and instead asked lawmakers to focus on the plight of those working to fight the virus and those who have themselves suffered from it or have lost a loved one to illness.
“There are a small number of people who make a lot of noise,” he says. “I just wish they would spend some time talking to someone who has suffered from this.”
In August, Becker, Vitale and Zeltwanger threatened to file articles of impeachment against DeWine, but ultimately gave up on doing so. The governor also rejected this effort.
“My priorities are to keep people safe and to move our economy forward faster and to put more people to work, to grow our economy and to save lives,” DeWine said at the time. “If there are others in the Legislature who want to spend their time drafting resolutions and tabling clauses … I would just say, ‘Go ahead. “”
In order for the effort to be successful, a majority of the GOP-controlled Ohio House of Representatives would have to approve the legislation. Two-thirds of the Ohio Senate, also dominated by Republicans, would then have to condemn DeWine.
On November 19, a three-week curfew to reduce the spread of COVID-19 went into effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and restricts some shopping and restaurant activities in Ohio.
As of Tuesday, more than 13.5 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 268,600 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Of those, Ohio has at least 421,063 cases and 6,429 deaths.
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