Effort To Impeach Maine Gov. Paul LePage Dies In State House

Republican Gov. Paul LePage acknowledges applause after taking the stage prior to being sworn in for his second term, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

A long-shot effort to impeach Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) failed Thursday when the state House of Representatives passed a motion postponing indefinitely consideration of the impeachment order. The postponement measure, introduced by House Republican Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, passed 96-52.

The LePage critics pushing the unprecedented impeachment effort faced an uphill battle, as even the leaders of the Maine’s Democratic House did not publicly support the effort. The impeachment order would have been the first procedural step toward impeachment. It would have initiated an investigation of LePage that could have ultimately led to his impeachment. It listed eight allegations of inappropriate behavior by LePage, including the accusation that he pressured an education organization into firing Rep. Mark Eves, the Democratic speaker of the House, as its president by threatening to block state funding to one of its charter schools.

Relations between the governor and state legislators have been tense for years, but were further inflamed by comments he made last week that New York drug dealers “impregnate” white girls in Maine.

12
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Damn. I first read “Maine Gov. Paul LePage Dies in State House” and I was happy.

    Oh well.

  2. typical democrats nationwide…gutless…

  3. Damn, what little hope I had is gone, though he never would have been removed from office, due to the State Senate being controlled by the GOP. I suppose the Dems didn’t want to waste the effort.

  4. There’s clear proof he abused his position and power, is insanely toxic, and they can’t impeach him?! Maine you get what you deserve…

  5. “Not guilty” does not mean innocent. “Not impeached” does not mean competent.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

6 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for publishermike Avatar for liberaljesus Avatar for humpback Avatar for carlosfiance Avatar for johnscotus Avatar for midnight_rambler Avatar for candirue Avatar for scottyrad Avatar for neal_anderthal Avatar for dnl Avatar for lynnthedem

Continue Discussion