Ohio state representatives file articles of impeachment against Gov DeWine for his lockdown policies

Ohio state representatives file articles of impeachment against Gov DeWine for his lockdown policies that have led to ‘high numbers of suicides, unemployment and drug abuse’

  • Mike DeWine, the Republican governor of Ohio, is being attacked for lockdown
  • On Monday, a group of Republican representatives filed impeachment articles
  • The state politicians accused DeWine of driving up suicides and drug abuse by imposing a statewide lockdown during the pandemic
  • DeWine responded that the ‘foolishness must stop’ and reality be accepted
  • He said that anyone doubting the severity of the crisis should speak to nurses 

Ohio’s governor is facing calls for his impeachment from fellow Republicans in the state legislature angered by the lockdown.

Mike DeWine, elected in 2018, has angered conservatives in his state over his response to the pandemic.

On Monday a state representative, John Becker, of Clermont County, filed 12 articles of impeachment, with the support of three others – Candice Keller of Middletown, Nino Vitale of Urbana and Paul Zeltwanger of Mason. 

Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio, described the impeachment articles as 'foolishness'

Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio, described the impeachment articles as ‘foolishness’

John Becker, representing Clermont County in Ohio, filed 12 impeachment articles Monday

John Becker, representing Clermont County in Ohio, filed 12 impeachment articles Monday

The articles of impeachment allege DeWine has violated the Ohio constitution’s separation of powers doctrine and acted beyond his authority in issuing health orders, including orders that closed some businesses and mandated masks in public spaces. 

DeWine dismissed the impeachment articles as ‘foolishness’ and hit out at those within his own party who were refusing to accept the reality of the virus.  

He said he wished people who question the severity of the pandemic would listen to the nurses and healthcare professionals who say conditions are getting worse at their hospitals, and to families who didn’t take the virus seriously and have lost loved ones during the pandemic.

‘At some point, this foolishness has got to stop,’ DeWine said. 

‘I’m not talking about most Ohioans – just a small number of people who for whatever reason just continue to think and act this is some big joke and this is all some fantasy.’

A 'Save Ohio's Restaurants and Bars: We Can't Afford Another Shutdown' protest last week

A ‘Save Ohio’s Restaurants and Bars: We Can’t Afford Another Shutdown’ protest last week

Protesters gathered in Columbus, Ohio, on November 19 to demand an end to lockdown

Protesters gathered in Columbus, Ohio, on November 19 to demand an end to lockdown

Becker promised in August to seek DeWine’s impeachment, but only filed the articles on Monday. 

‘He continues to have callous disregard for the fact that his isolation policies have led to a shockingly high number of suicides, alarming rates of drug abuse, persistently high unemployment, and the forced abandonment of the elderly by their loved ones,’ Becker said in a statement.

Becker said he requested the legislation to be referred to a committee he chairs. 

House Speaker Bob Cupp previously said the impeachment effort would not advance in his chamber.

State employees were due to start returning to their offices in early January, but DeWine said on Monday that will again be postponed. 

DeWine is asking all employers and employees to work from home if they can, according to Cinccinati.com.

DeWine said everyone reducing their contact with others by only a fifth would make a difference.

‘I’m just asking every Ohioan – pull back more,’ he said during a Monday coronavirus briefing.

A total of 5,060 COVID-19 patients were in hospital care on Monday, and some hospitals have limited or stopped elective surgeries that require hospital stays.

‘The reality is hospitals are making difficult decisions about delaying care,’ said Dr. Andrew Thomas of Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

One hospital in northern Ohio recently acquired a refrigerated truck to serve as extra morgue space, he said.

source: dailymail.co.uk