Maryland Attorney General Impeachment Effort rejected

April 01, 2010

As reported by Julie Bykowicz for The Baltimore Sun:

"A House of Delegates committee rejected Wednesday a Republican lawmaker's attempt to impeach Maryland's attorney general over an opinion he issued recently on the freedom to marry.

"Del. Don H. Dwyer Jr. of Anne Arundel County had asked fellow delegates to initiate the impeachment process for Douglas F. Gansler, a Democrat, who said Maryland should recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states. Dwyer says Gansler's opinion wrongly overturned state policy on such unions.

"The House Judiciary Committee rejected Dwyer's effort, voting 15-5 that Gansler's conduct did not merit impeachment proceedings. Del. Susan McComas, a Harford County Republican, joined the Democrats on the committee in opposing impeachment. The chairman abstained from voting, and one member was absent.

"'People shouldn't be tarred and feathered and hung out to dry,' said Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons, a Montgomery County Democrat. 'If you don't like his opinion, take it to the ballot box.'"

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