Governor Paul LePage threatened with impeachment (2015)

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Six Maine legislators called to impeach Republican Maine Governor Paul LePage after he reportedly pressured an organization not to hire a political opponent in June 2015.[1][2]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • LePage allegedly coerced an employer to withdraw a job offer to a political opponent.
  • A state legislative oversight committee launched an investigation into possible abuse of power.
  • Six legislators called for an impeachment resolution, though its prospects were in doubt.

    • Job offer dispute

    On June 9, 2015, Good Will-Hinckley, a non-profit organization that operates Maine's first charter school and the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, announced plans to hire Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves as its new president.[3] But several days before Eves was slated to begin, the school rescinded its job offer. This decision followed a highly-publicized threat by LePage to withhold $500,000 in state funding from the school for at-risk youths. The loss of state funding reportedly could have resulted in an additional loss of $2 million in private funds for the school.[4]

    In an official statement, LePage did not deny Eves' charges of what the Maine legislative leader referred to as "blackmail." In the statement, LePage criticized the school for hiring Eves, whom LePage considered a politician with an anti-charter school stance. The statement referred to the decision to hire Eves as a "back-room deal" that the governor said he considered "political corruption."[5]

    He said:

    “ I will not stand for it and neither will the Maine people. Speaker Eves has been an ardent foe of charter schools for his entire political career, then he turns around and gets hired to run a charter school—whose board is chaired by Eves’ own State House employee—for a cushy job worth about $150,000 in total compensation. To provide half-a-million dollars in taxpayer funding to a charter school that would be headed by Maine’s most vehement anti-charter-school politician is not only the height of hypocrisy, it is absolutely unacceptable.[6] ”
    —Governor Paul R. LePage[7]

    Jack Moore, the chairman of the school's board of directors, confirmed on June 26, 2015, that the sole reason for withdrawing Eves' offer was LePage's threat to withhold the $500,000.[8]

    Government Oversight Committee hearings

    On June 29, 2015, four Maine legislators asked the state's Government Oversight Committee (GOC) to look into reports of interference by LePage with Good Will-Hinckley's plans to hire Eves.[9]

    Cynthia Montgomery, LePage's chief legal counsel, sent a letter to Beth Ashcroft, director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA), informing her that the committee did not have the authority to investigate the governor.[10] The OPEGA probe went forward despite Montgomery's warning but reportedly would not be a determination of wrongdoing. Its findings, however, could be used in an impeachment proceeding if one went forward.[11]

    The GOC voted unanimously on July 1 to begin an investigation into whether the governor had inappropriately used public funds.[12] The committee directed the OPEGA to investigate proposed changes in the state's funding of the non-profit organization.[13]

    OPEGA's report was produced on September 7 and can be read here: OPEGA Good Will-Hinckley Information Brief

    LePage aides subpoenaed

    In October, the GOC voted to subpoena Montgomery and the governor's senior policy adviser, Aaron Chadbourne, to appear before the panel.[14] According to Eves and confirmed by Montgomery, a handwritten letter was sent to the chairman of the school's board of directors threatening to withhold funding unless the school changed its mind about hiring Eves.[5][15]

    Chadbourne told the committee that Eves' criticism of the governor was partisan and hypocritical. LePage's adviser said Eves had supported a similar tactic when it was exercised by a fellow Democrat, Portland Mayor Michael Brennan.[16]

    Among others implicated in the charges was LePage's former acting education commissioner, Tom Desjardin. He allegedly delivered a message from the governor to Good Will-Hinckley's board chairman during a lunch conversation. Since Desjardin was not confirmed as education commissioner by the Democrat-controlled Maine Senate, he returned to his previous position as deputy education commissioner.

    Another figure caught in the investigation was Eves' chief budget advisor, Bill Brown. He was also chairman of the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences' board. Brown recused himself from the hiring process, but the governor said a conflict of interest constituted "unabashed political patronage."[17]

    Adrienne Bennett, a spokeswoman for the governor, called the investigation "political chicanery." She said, "This review was little more than a political witch hunt triggered by overreaching politicians who have a history of leading attacks on the governor."[18]

    LePage Impeachment Timeline
    June 8, 2015: LePage sends letter to Good Will-Hinkley voicing concerns about Eves' stance on charter schools
    June 9, 2015: Good Will-Hinckley announces Eves job offer
    June 23, 2015: LePage threatens to cut off state funding
    June 24, 2015: Good Will-Hinckley rescinds Eves job offer
    June 25, 2015: Six legislators call for impeachment
    June 29, 2015: Four legislators request investigation
    July 30, 2015: Eves files civil suit against LePage
    November 12, 2015: Two top LePage advisers testify at Government Oversight Committee hearings
    December 22, 2015: Attorney general rejects calls for criminal charges against LePage

    Call for impeachment

    Six members of the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives announced they would attempt to press for the initiation of impeachment and/or disciplinary proceedings against LePage for the funding threats. The push for impeachment was led by state Reps. Jeffrey Evangelos (I), Ben Chipman (I), Pinny Beebe-Center (D), Lydia Blume (D), Roberta Beavers (D) and Charlotte Warren (D).[19][20]

    Following hearings, Evangelos said they had "the necessary grounds to believe that the governor is abusing the bounds of his power." He and Chipman said they planned to draft impeachment charges.[21]

    Attorney general says no criminal charges

    On December 22, 2015, Maine Attorney General Janet Mills rejected calls for criminal charges of "abuse of power" against LePage. In a letter to Reps. Evangelos, Chipman and Warren, Mills and Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney wrote that "there is not a basis at this time for us to pursue a criminal investigation."[22]

    In an interview, Evangelos replied that there was a "lack of courage in Augusta to confront the realities of what we're dealing with."[23]

    He added:

    “ We obviously disagree with her decision. It doesn't change our plans for impeachment. In fact, it makes impeachment more certain.[6] ”
    —Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos (I)[23]

    Democrats divided on impeachment vote

    On the opening day of the 2016 legislative session, Maine's top House Democrat opted to delay votes to reprimand or impeach LePage. Speaker Eves said he preferred instead to "focus on priorities that are going to put more money into Mainers' pockets."[24] But a few days later, those lawmakers who had previously pressed for the governor's removal from office announced they would move forward with that effort.[25]

    In addition to alleged abuse of power, LePage was accused of racism for a reported comment about "young white" girls being impregnated by out-of-state drug dealers. The governor later apologized for that statement.[26]

    Impeachment resolution tabled

    By a vote of 96 to 52, on January 14, 2016, the Maine House of Representatives indefinitely tabled a resolution to pursue impeachment efforts against LePage. Republicans voted unanimously against the resolution, but Democrats were split.[27]

    The governor responded to the decision by saying:

    “ This impeachment nonsense was nothing more than a political witch hunt that has absolutely no merit. While some members of the Legislature were obsessing for months over this foolishness, I have been working on the real issues that matter to the Maine people.[27][6] ”

    Some LePage critics in the chamber gallery expressed outrage over the vote by shouting "shameful!" and "dereliction of duty!" before being removed by a security detail.[28]

    Media opinions

    • Kennebec Journal: "It may be time for us to consider impeaching the governor. Paul LePage is not doing his job and he continues to threaten people he thinks are conspiring against him, but he won't resign." October 10, 2015
    • Portland Press Herald: "Our View: LePage ‘strong-arming’ calls for legislative sanction. Interference in the Good Will-Hinckley matter should not be accepted as normal behavior." December 6, 2015
    • Bangor Daily News: "Democrats should stop trying to oust LePage...They should realize that at this point, they’re just trying to kick a governor out of office because they disagree with him." December 28, 2015

    Impeachment procedures

    According to Article 4 of the Maine Constitution, the House has the sole power to impeach a sitting governor, but impeachments must be tried by the Republican-controlled Maine State Senate and would require a two-thirds majority vote. The Maine State Legislature has the power only to impeach LePage; any criminal charges would require action in the Maine court system. There has never been a successful impeachment effort against a governor in Maine's history, and citizens have no avenue through which to initiate a recall effort in the state.[19]

    Civil suit filed against LePage

    Following Eves' allegations, a second accusation of wrongdoing by LePage emerged. An unnamed source from the Maine Department of Education told reporters that Suzan Beaudoin, the state's director of school finance and operations, was told by LePage to stop payment on approximately $100,000 that was due to the school as soon as the state's budget was approved. According to the source, LePage gave Beaudoin the direction to stop payment on the already-approved money on the same day that Good Will-Hinckley announced Eves' appointment as school president.[29]

    On July 30, 2015, Eves filed a civil suit against LePage in U.S. District Court, alleging that the governor used public funds and the power of his office to block the Good Will-Hinckley employment contract. That job was reportedly worth $150,000 per year in salary and benefits. This was the first time in 40 years that a sitting governor of Maine had been sued personally.[30]

    History of gubernatorial impeachments

    There have been 15 governors impeached by state legislatures in American history. Eight impeachments resulted in convictions, with the remaining seven ending in acquittals, resignations, or the completion of terms. The first impeachment effort targeted but failed to remove Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson in 1862 following questions about the state's bond sale. The most recent impeachment was the 2009 conviction of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich following federal corruption charges.[31] Two governors—Florida Gov. Harrison Reed and Oklahoma Gov. Henry Johnston—were impeached twice, with Reed avoiding conviction in both trials and Johnston removed from office after two trials in two years. The following table details the history of gubernatorial impeachment efforts in the United States:[32]

    Historical gubernatorial impeachments
    Year State Governor Outcome
    2009 Illinois Rod Blagojevich Conviction
    1988 Arizona Evan Meacham Conviction
    1929 Louisiana Huey Long Acquittal
    1929 Oklahoma Henry Johnston Conviction
    1928 Oklahoma Henry Johnston Acquittal
    1923 Oklahoma John Walton Conviction
    1917 Texas James Ferguson Conviction
    1913 New York William Sulzer Conviction
    1876 Louisiana William Kellogg Acquittal
    1876 Mississippi Adelbert Ames Resignation
    1872 Florida Harrison Reed Acquittal
    1872 Louisiana Henry Warmoth End of term
    1871 Nebraska David Butler Conviction
    1871 Arkansas Powell Clayton Acquittal
    1870 North Carolina William Holden Conviction
    1868 Florida Harrison Reed Acquittal
    1862 Kansas Charles Robinson Acquittal

    Recent news

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    Governor Paul LePage threatened with impeachment (2015) - Google News

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News, "Maine House members launching push to impeach LePage," June 26, 2015
    2. ↑ Maine.gov, "Constitution of the State of Maine," accessed March 28, 2014
    3. ↑ Good Will Hinkley, "Good Will-Hinckley Board of Directors Unanimously Selects Mark Eves as Next President," accessed November 11, 2015
    4. ↑ Kevin Miller, CentralMaine.com, "House Speaker Mark Eves loses new job, accuses LePage of ‘blackmail,'" June 24, 2015
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 David Nir, Daily Kos, "LePage doesn't deny threatening school's funding to punish rival, and lawmakers consider impeachment," June 25, 2015
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    7. ↑ Office of Governor Paul R. LePage, "Governor Stands by His Decision to Oppose Selection of Speaker Eves to Run Charter School," June 25, 2015
    8. ↑ Kevin Miller, Portland Press Herald, "Good Will-Hinckley chair: ‘political biases’ had no bearing on Eves’ decision," June 26, 2015
    9. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Lawmakers call for independent investigation into LePage-Eves scandal," June 29, 2015
    10. ↑ Steve Mistler, Portland Press Herald, "Maine watchdog agency to investigate LePage’s funding threat in Mark Eves hiring," July 1, 2015
    11. ↑ Steve Mistler, Portland Press Herald, "Investigation starts into LePage threat to withhold funds if school hired Eves," July 17, 2015
    12. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Lawmakers vote unanimously to support investigation of LePage," July 1, 2015
    13. ↑ Huffington Post, "Here's Why Lawmakers Want To Impeach Maine Gov. Paul LePage," June 26, 2015
    14. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Panel to compel LePage aides to testify on move to cut Good Will-Hinckley funding," October 17, 2015
    15. ↑ Steve Mistler, Portland Press Herald, "Eves: Charter school told him LePage threatened to cut funding unless he was fired," June 25, 2015
    16. ↑ Maine Wire, "Eves Called Out For Hypocrisy In Good Will-Hinckley Investigation," November 12, 2015
    17. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Legislative watchdogs cast wide net for LePage investigation," November 10, 2015
    18. ↑ The Washington Times, "Maine Democrats to weigh LePage investigation, impeachment," December 3, 2015
    19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 WCSH, "Attorney explains impeachment process," June 26, 2015
    20. ↑ Edgar Allen Beem, The Forecaster, "The Universal Notebook: Impeach the governor," July 6, 2015
    21. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Two legislators push impeachment as panel ends LePage inquiry," December 3, 2015
    22. ↑ Daily Journal, "Maine attorney general: No basis for criminal investigation of Gov. Paul LePage," December 22, 2015
    23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Bangor Daily News, "LePage won’t face criminal investigation for role in Eves’ firing," December 23, 2015
    24. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Democrats delay face-off with LePage, defer impeachment vote," January 6, 2016
    25. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Maine legislators to introduce impeachment bill Thursday," January 10, 2016
    26. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "As polarization increases, comments viewed as racist by some resonate with other voters," January 10, 2016
    27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Portland Press Herald, "Maine House votes against impeachment of Gov. LePage," January 15, 2016
    28. ↑ Yahoo News, "Effort to impeach Maine Gov. Paul LePage falls short," January 14, 2016
    29. ↑ Pine Tree Watchdog, "LePage ordered an approved $100K payment to charter school stopped when Eves named head of school," June 25, 2015
    30. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "House Speaker Mark Eves sues LePage, claiming governor used power ‘to bully and intimidate,'" July 31, 2015
    31. ↑ CNN, "Illinois senators vote to oust Blagojevich from office," January 29, 2009
    32. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Governors' Impeachments in U.S. History," July 8, 2008
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