2 lawmakers launch petition to impeach New Mexico governor
[anvplayer video=”5192836″ station=”998122″]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The backlash continues over Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s controversial public health order. State Republican Reps. John Block and Stefani Lord say they’ve officially started the process of working to impeach the governor.
The lawmakers launched an official petition to fellow legislators and their constituents Tuesday, demanding that Lujan Grisham resign or be impeached.
KOB 4 reached out to the governor’s office for comment. A spokesperson shared the following statement:
“It is unsurprising but disappointing that Republicans in the state are choosing to use this time to orchestrate a political stunt instead of coming up with solutions to protect all New Mexicans. With less than 120 days until the start of the session, now is the time to focus on drafting comprehensive legislation to stem the epidemic of gun violence in the state.”
The Democratic Party of New Mexico shared the following statement:
State Republican Reps. John Block and Stefani Lord say they've officially started the process of working to impeach the governor.
“New Mexico needs real solutions to take on the public safety issues impacting our communities. Calling for an impeachment over a policy dispute isn’t a real solution. It’s more of the same short-sighted, self-serving, blame-game that has come to characterize the New Mexico Republican Party. The Governor and Democrats in the legislature have been working on commonsense gun safety reforms to make our neighborhoods and schools safer for years. If Representatives Lord and Block don’t like it, they should offer their gun safety policy ideas. Anything less is disrespectful to the people of this state.”
On Block’s website, there’s also a message for people to copy and paste. It calls on lawmakers to call an extraordinary session to impeach the governor – that would require approval by two-thirds of the Legislature.
Lord said if an extraordinary session is called, crime would also be on the agenda.
A New Mexico governor has never been impeached before. However, nothing can happen unless the Legislature calls an extraordinary session, or the governor calls a special session – which she has already said she will not do.