April 09, 2024 11:49 AM UTC
16 Feedback- by: Colorado Pols
As a part of their long-running efforts to show that they’re completely not severe folks serious about helpful discussions about something, Home Republicans will right this moment waste a number of hours of everybody’s time in a pointless quest to question Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
What for? Let’s dig in…
When and The place Will this Circus Take Place?
The Home Judiciary Committee will convene at 1:30 pm right this moment within the Previous State Library to listen to dialogue on HR24-1006. Democrats and Republicans will every have the ability to name 5 witnesses to testify. Griswold may even be allowed to talk for herself.
Republicans corresponding to State Celebration Chairman Dave Williams and State Rep. Ken “Pores and skin” DeGraaf preserve calling on their supporters to indicate up on the listening to to testify. They’re both uninformed about how this can work or they merely don’t care.
Both means, random folks exhibiting up on the listening to will NOT be allowed to testify for causes that ought to be apparent to anybody with a working mind. Given the truth that the Republican micro-minority within the State Home has not but give you a coherent cause for why Griswold ought to be impeached, it could be pointless to permit different folks to waste time voicing their very own batshit loopy conspiracy theories.
Okay, So What IS the Republican Case for Impeachment?
Mainly, Home Republicans suppose Griswold is imply on social media and is just too partisan for a job that’s all the time determined by way of a partisan election.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
Quentin Younger of Colorado Newsline has an ideal thread on the social media platform previously often known as Twitter that digs deep into the silliness forward this afternoon.
You may learn all the impeachment decision HERE, however we’ll provide the Cliff’s Notes model: Primarily, Republicans say that Griswold dedicated “excessive crimes or misdemeanors or malfeasance in workplace” as a result of she mentioned publicly she agreed with a Colorado Supreme Courtroom ruling ORDERING HER to (briefly) take away Donald J. Trump from the Republican Major poll on Tremendous Tuesday:
It is extremely necessary to notice that Griswold herself PLAYED NO ROLE in deciding whether or not or not Trump ought to be faraway from the Colorado poll — a call in the end reversed by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. The identify of this case is Anderson v. Griswold, with GRISWOLD being named as a defendant due to her place as Secretary of State (SOS). The Colorado Supreme Courtroom instructed Griswold to take away Trump from the poll, so she complied. When the U.S. Supreme Courtroom overruled that call and instructed Griswold to place Trump’s identify again on the poll…she complied.
In different phrases, Home Republicans try to question Griswold for voicing an opinion a couple of courtroom ruling in a public setting. As anybody with even a rudimentary understanding of American democracy can inform you, “voicing an opinion” is a proper that’s assured by the literal First Modification of the USA Structure.
Additionally necessary: TRUMP’S NAME APPEARED ON THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT IN COLORADO. Actually, Trump received the Republican nomination for President right here. On the finish of the day, nothing that Griswold did or mentioned modified that final result.
Had been There Precise “Excessive Crimes, Misdemeanors, or Malfeasance” Dedicated by Griswold?
Excessive crimes? Nope.
Misdemeanors? Nada.
Malfeasance? In all probability not. This can be a maddeningly-vague and repetitive time period for one thing as necessary as impeachment. Merriam-Webster defines “malfeasance” as “wrongdoing or misconduct particularly by a public official.” The accusation of “malfeasance” is kind of within the eye of the beholder.
So What’s This ACTUALLY About, Then?
State Rep. Ryan Armagost, who’s the prime sponsor of this decision together with Home Minority Chief Rose Pugliese, gave away the sport in an interview with Kyle Clark of 9News in late March. Through the course of a 10-minute interview on the State Capitol, Armagost was unable to give you any severe rationale for impeaching Griswold earlier than lastly admitting that this entire charade is a political stunt meant to rile up the MAGA base for Republicans:
ARMAGOST: …That is one thing that we will say, ‘We’re doing this,’ despite the fact that it may not achieve success within the Home. Our constituents can see: We…we…we did it…however we will’t do something primarily based on being within the tremendous minority. That may additionally hopefully assist us within the subsequent election cycle.
CLARK: [Clark pauses with a quizzical look on his face, then continues…]
Wait, you didn’t simply say you have been impeaching her as a result of it is going to make it easier to within the subsequent election cycle?
ARMAGOST: No…
[We need to intervene here quickly. Armagost says ‘NO,’ but then everything he says next says ‘YES.’]
…I believe this can get extra folks to come back to vote, in order that we will get extra folks voting for what they suppose is correct…understanding that they’ve folks standing up in workplace for them, and they should get extra folks standing up in workplace for them.
That response led to this wonderful back-and-forth:
Listed below are a few of the different issues with Armagost’s rationale for impeaching Griswold:
CLARK: Did [Griswold] have [Trump] faraway from the Major Poll?
ARMAGOST: No, however she was behind the trouble that went by means of the Colorado Supreme Courtroom after which as much as the U.S. Supreme Courtroom the place it was dominated down.
Griswold isn’t a member of the Colorado Supreme Courtroom and WAS THE DEFENDANT on this case. Regardless, word that Armagost freely admitted that Griswold DID NOT take away Trump from the poll.
Armagost additionally admitted that there isn’t a precise regulation that Griswold violated in discussing the end result of the Colorado Supreme Courtroom determination:
ARMAGOST: She appeared in Supreme Courtroom hearings. She appeared along with her private {and professional} opinions about Donald Trump.
CLARK: And is there one thing in Colorado regulation that you simply consider prevents her from doing that?
ARMAGOST: No. Simply…in her skilled function, she violated that…the essence of violating free and truthful elections for the folks of Colorado.
Ultimately, Clark even acquired Armagost to acknowledge that Griswold simply makes Republicans unhappy:
CLARK: So subsequently what you’re alleging is malfeasance for her stating her emotions a couple of courtroom case.
ARMAGOST: Sure. Primarily, dereliction of her obligation.
CLARK: [visibly confused now] Okay.
Is…is ‘emotions’ a floor for impeachment.
ARMAGOST: No. Completely not.
CLARK: Okay.
Okay.
What Else Ought to I Watch For At present?
There are a variety of the explanation why Home Republicans could shortly come to remorse this determination to pursue impeachment for no good cause:
- Rebellion
Republicans are doubtless going to must reply questions on whether or not or not Trump was accountable for main the Jan. 6 riot. Colorado courts dominated that Trump incited an riot, and even the conservative U.S. Supreme Courtroom refused to say that Trump didn’t incite an riot. Arguing in any other case is a idiot’s errand at this level. - Election Fraud
Was the 2020 election official? Republicans who’re pushing this impeachment listening to for the MAGA base will most likely be caught defending Trump on the query of main an riot and on whether or not or not they consider the 2020 Presidential election was official. These will not be issues that good Republicans ought to be speaking about in an election 12 months. - Can Home Republicans Preserve Decorum?
With Republicans inviting folks to come back testify — which, once more, isn’t allowed — right this moment’s listening to might be overrun with offended MAGA trolls who create a scene that simply finally ends up making the GOP micro-minority look much more impotent. State Celebration Chair Dave Williams is making an attempt to rile folks up and the State GOP is reposting this:
- Unhealthy Timing for Gabe-ish Evans
State Rep. Gabe-ish Evans is a member of the Home Judiciary Committee, which suggests he’s going to must say some issues on the document that most likely received’t assist his effort to win a congressional race in CO-08. Evans has to get by means of a Republican Major (towards former Republican Rep. Janak Joshi) earlier than he can earn the suitable to tackle incumbent Democrat Yadira Caraveo in November. The issues he would possibly really feel compelled to say right this moment may assist him beat Joshi however will doubtless show YUGELY problematic when making an attempt to pivot to a Basic Election viewers. And keep in mind: Evans has needed to say a number of instances lately that he totally helps Trump for President in 2024.
Will Jena Griswold Truly Be Impeached?
No.
We’ll let Marshall Zelinger of 9News clarify:
What’s the Greatest-Case State of affairs for Republicans At present?
That, expensive readers, is one query we can not reply.