AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A group of legislators is discussing impeachment after an allegation from Speaker of the House Mark Eves that Gov. Paul LePage blackmailed a local charter school in order to get Eves fired from the position as president.
"You don't talk about impeachment or think about impeachment unless a crime has taken place. In this case, we believe a crime has taken place," said Rep. Benjamin Chipman (I-Portland).
Eves alleges that LePage threatened the Good Will-Hinckley School to either fire him from his recent appointment as president or lose over $500,000 in budgeted state funds and thereby lose another $2,000,000 in private funding. Eves and his lawyer said they have the threat in writing.
Rep. Chipman, Rep. Pinny Beebe-Center (D-Rockland) , Rep. Charlotte Warren (D-Hallowell) and Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos (I-Friendship) met Thursday to discuss impeachment proceedings.
"This isn't just a political disagreement in Augusta. This is the highest elected official in Maine...using our funds, taxpayer dollars, in an inappropriate way," said Chipman.
Rep. Beebe-Center said LePage's actions are an abuse of authority, a misuse of state assets and "completely over the top."
Republican and Senate President Michael Thibodeau was not at that meeting, but released a statement saying he was "very saddened by this situation and shocked by what is being alleged."
"Nearly all legislators depend on a career outside of the State House to provide for their families," Thibodeau said. "For that reason, I am deeply concerned about what has happened to Mark Eves and his family."
The power of impeachment rests with the House of Representatives under the Maine Constitution. The Senate has the sole power to try all the impeachments and two-thirds majority is required for any removal from office. Under the General Provisions, Section 5, "every person holding any civil office...may be removed by impeachment, for misdemeanor in office." The impeachment process is separate from the criminal process.
Under Maine law "Theft by Extortion" is a Class C crime. The law defines extortion as, "do any other act that would not in itself substantially benefit the person but that would harm substantially any other person with respect to that person's health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation or personal relationships."
LePage has maintained the Eves is not fit for the position, citing Eves lack of support for charter schools in the past. He also said there were backroom deals that led to Eves appointment.
"His backroom deal between cronies is exactly the kind of political corruption I came to Augusta to fight against," LePage said. "I will not stand for it and neither will the Maine people."
LePage has not made any comment about the impeachment discussions.
