Committee Votes For Hergert Impeachment Resolution (Impeachment in Ne.)

Committee Votes For Hergert Impeachment Resolution
Session Ends April 12, Vote May Come Late

POSTED: 1:27 pm CST March 28, 2006
UPDATED: 10:19 pm CST March 28, 2006



LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers will debate the proposed impeachment of University of Nebraska Regent David Hergert in the coming weeks.

That follows the Legislature's Executive Board move on Tuesday to draft a resolution calling for the impeachment of Hergert for violating election laws during his 2004 campaign. The board voted 5-3 to draft the resolution, which would be debated before the full Legislature. It is the first such move against an elected official in the state in more than 20 years.

"The only fine remedy for violations on this scale is impeachment," said Sen. Chris Beutler of Lincoln, who said there's enough evidence to impeach. "There were clear violations in the law even the Mock brief stated he believed the acts were intentional."

In January, a judge dismissed a grand jury looking into possible criminal violations. Last week, an attorney for a special legislative committee said lawmakers have no legal grounds for impeachment.

"At this point, I can not support articles of impeachment unless I'm convinced it's going to produce the conviction necessary to fulfill the obligation of an impeachment proceeding," said Sen. Phil Erdman of Bayard.


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