BOISE, Idaho — An eastern Idaho Representative says Governor Brad Little should be impeached for a "violation of rights." This comes after the governor's press conference last Friday where Little called the legislation put forward by legislators to end the emergency declarations a "shameful game."
Rep. Chad Christensen (R-Ammon) took to his "Chad Christensen for Idaho" Facebook page, calling Little's speech a "tantrum," saying he is "committed to moving forward to impeach him."
Rep. Christensen emphasized in an interview with Newstalk 670 KBOI that he believes Gov. Little is violating the first amendment by not allowing people to gather together and peacefully assemble. He also feels the right to worship has been violated as part of Little's order at the beginning of the pandemic restricted in-person church services to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In the same interview with 670 KBOI radio, Rep. Christensen said he doesn't mind emergency orders, but he does have a problem with the way the Governor went about it.
"Declare the emergency and try to help the state anyway that you can. It's the issue of the orders that come down at the beginning where he shut down businesses, restricted the right to worship, the right to assemble peacefully. He's restricted and prevented people from gathering in public places and limited that right, so it's the basic premise that he's violating these rights, and it's my biggest issue with him," Christensen told KBOI.
When asked about these claims and statements made by Christensen, Governor Little's office states, "Governor Little remains focused on building Idaho's future and the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to protect the lives of Idahoans and continue Idaho's strong economic trajectory."
Christensen says he'll work to get a hearing in the house state affairs committee, and if that gets shot down, he will pursue a personal bill, which is a more difficult path for passage. He also claims there is already a draft of the legislature out and ready.
