With more than enough House members likely to vote “yes” to their sponsored resolution impeaching Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, the Senate is now preparing for the trial.
Senate President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) tasked Vice President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan) to head a panel that will review the rules to be used in the event the impeachment process moves to the Senate.
Torres said yesterday he's been appointed chairman on Rules and Procedure Committee, and has started reviewing rules in other states and jurisdictions pertaining to an impeachment trial.
Because such process is unprecedented in CNMI history, the Senate needs all the preparations required to hold a fair and impartial trial.
The governor himself is preparing for his defense.
“It will be at that appropriate time and forum that he will respond to the articles lodged against him,” the administration earlier said. It's not known yet whether the governor would have private counsels or would be aided by the Office of the Attorney General.
The impeachment resolution that the 16-member House leadership pre-filed listed 18 articles relating to corruption, neglect, and felony.
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