Impeachment committee to convene Wed.

The Senate Special Committee on the Impeachment Hearing will convene for a prehearing conference this Wednesday to set, among other deadlines, a date for when the impeachment hearing will start in the case against Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.

In a memorandum Saturday, Sen. Karl R. King-Nabors (R-Tinian), who chairs the Special Impeachment Committee, notified committee members about the prehearing conference at 10am in the Senate chamber on Capital Hill.

The meeting’s agenda includes establishing deadlines: for the submission of the House Impeachment Record, for the filing of pertinent motions, for the exchange of witness and exhibit lists, projected time required by the parties for the presentation of their cases, and any other matters before the committee.

King-Nabors

Attendance of all Legislative Bureau support staff assigned to assist in the Senate impeachment proceedings are required.

Pursuant to COVID-19 protocols, written testimonies may be delivered to the Senate entrance or sent via email to Senate clerk Dolores S. Bermudes at doloresbermudes.lb@gmail.com.

Oral testimonies may be presented during the comment portion of the meeting. King-Nabors limited oral testimonies not to exceed 5 minutes, but longer statements in writing may be accepted.

For those who wish to present an oral testimony, they have to inform the Senate clerk 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting at (670) 664-8850 or via email.

Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) formed last Thursday the Special Impeachment Committee that will look into House Resolution 22-14, which impeached Torres for alleged commission of felonies, corruption, and neglect of duty.

Hofschneider appointed King-Nabors as chairman, Sen. Justo S. Quitugua (R-Saipan) as vice chairman, and members Sens. Francisco Q. Cruz (R-Tinian), Victor B. Hocog (R-Rota), and Teresita A. Santos (Ind-Rota).

It was King-Nabors and Cruz, as chairpersons of the Committee on Judiciary, Government, Law, and Federal Relations, and Committee on Executive, Appointments and Government Investigations, respectively, who drafted the Impeachment Rules that the full Senate adopted last March 3.

That set the stage for what is expected to be a partisan brawl between the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives that will decide whether to remove or not Torres as governor.

Torres, who is the titular head of the CNMI Republican Party, is seeking re-election this Nov. 8 election.