SAYING that the Senate will be fair and impartial, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider on Thursday referred the House resolution calling for the impeachment of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Government, Law and Federal Relations; and on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations.
The Senate received a copy of House Resolution 22-14 on Jan. 14, 2022.
Passed by a 15-4 vote in the Democrat-led House, the resolution accuses the Republican governor of commission of felonies, corruption, and neglect of duty. Torres has denied the allegations. He will be removed from office if at least six of the nine senators vote to convict him.
On Jan. 18, 2022, the two members of the Senate minority bloc, Democrat Edith E. Deleon Guerrero and Paul A. Manglona, an independent aligned with the NMI Democratic Party, prefiled Senate Resolution 22-14, which calls for the adoption of the Senate impeachment rules.
Hofschneider said the resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee for its consideration.
The Senate was supposed to hold a session on Thursday, but it was postponed because Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan and Senate legislative secretary Victor B. Hocog were on Rota for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly renovated Rota West Harbor Marina.
Sablan is Torres’ running mate in this year’s gubernatorial election.
The Senate president said he anticipates to hear back from the judiciary and EAGI committee chairs — Sens. Karl King-Nabors and Francisco Q. Cruz — as early as next week.
The Senate session has been rescheduled for Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. in the Senate chamber.
The Republican-led leadership of the Senate holds seven of its nine seats, but Hofschneider said they will provide the House leadership and the governor’s legal team an opportunity to present their arguments to the Senate.
“Then we’ll go from there,” he added.
As for the Senate impeachment rules drafted in 2013 after then-Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was impeached by the House, Hofschneider said those rules may have to be revised.
Fitial resigned before the Senate could hold a trial.
“Different members are involved this year,” Hofschneider said. “I want to give an opportunity to the new members that have not been here in the past to also make their recommendations as they will be responsible for the proceedings as we move ahead.”
He added, “There are some elements of the process on how to approach this in terms of picking the judge to facilitate the hearing…. I am anxious to see [the committees’] proposed rules.”
Hofschneider was also Senate president when Fitial was impeached on Feb. 11-12, 2013. His Senate trial was set for March 7, 2013, but he resigned on Feb. 20, 2013.
“I’m the only presiding officer in the Senate that can be able to say that he has to deal with this issue twice,” Hofschneider said. “It’s not fun times in the CNMI…. Again, we’re going to give both parties an opportunity to present their case, and we’re going to review what is presented before us.”
He added, “I only ask that we tread carefully because this is a very sensitive issue in the community and for all of us. We’re a small community…and we need to wait until the dates have been set and the proceedings proceed, then we’ll go from there.”
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider poses for a photo in his office.
