THE Senate Special Committee on Impeachment is scheduled to convene for a prehearing conference this Wednesday, March 16, at 10 a.m. in the Senate chamber.
Rule 13 of the Senate Impeachment Rules for the 22nd CNMI Legislature states that the presiding hearing officer may order the impeachment prosecutor and the impeached official, or the impeached official’s legal counsel, to appear for a prehearing conference before the Senate or the committee.
This is in order to establish 1) a deadline for the submission of the House impeachment record, and any addition or exclusion thereof; 2) deadlines for the filing of motions, if any; 3) deadlines for any other matters appropriate before the Senate or committee; and 4) a date for the start of the impeachment hearings.
In this case, Sen. Karl King-Nabors is the presiding hearing officer, House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez is the impeachment prosecutor, and the impeached official is Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
The other members of the special committee are the Vice Chairman Senate Vice President Justo S. Quitugua, Sens. Francisco Q. Cruz, Victor B. Hocog, and Teresita A. Santos.
The special committee has been tasked by Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider to look into House Resolution 22-14 which calls for the impeachment of the governor. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 15 to 5 and 1 abstention on Jan. 12, 2022.
In a previous interview, Governor Torres said attorneys Anthony Aguon and Viola Alepuyo would represent him in the Senate impeachment trial, while Office of the Governor legal counsel Gil Birnbrich and Washington D.C.-based attorney Ross Garber would be the lawyers on behalf of the government.
The Senate will soon begin the impeachment trial of the governor who has been accused of commission of felonies, corruption, and neglect of duty. He has denied the allegations.
He will be removed from office if six members of the Senate vote for his conviction.
Karl King-Nabors
