State representative files 12 articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Ohio Rep. John Becker, R-Union Township, announced Monday that he has filed 12 articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Becker said the articles of impeachment outline DeWine's "abuse of power and multiple violations of the Ohio and United States Constitutions, as well as multiple sections of the Ohio Revised Code."

"Governor DeWine’s mismanagement, malfeasance, misfeasance, abuse of power, and other crimes include, but are not limited to, meddling in the conduct of a presidential primary election, arbitrarily closing and placing curfews on certain businesses, while allowing other businesses to remain open. He weaponized the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to bully and harass businesses and the people; to enforce a statewide mask mandate and other controversial measures of dubious “value,” making Ohio a hostile work environment," Becker said in a release.

DeWine responded Monday during a COVID-19 briefing and said "at some point, the foolishness has got to stop."

"I'd like for them to go in and talk to some nurses who are frontline nurses who are dealing with people who are dying," DeWine said. "I'd like for them to go talk to family members, maybe a family that didn't believe that this could happen. Now at Christmas, there will be one less person at the table. So, at some point, the foolishness has got to stop."

Becker was joined in filing the articles of impeachment by Republican Representatives Candice Keller, Nino Vitale, and Paul Zeltwanger.

Acting as a private citizen, Becker previouslyfiled a Private Citizen Affidavit in Clermont County Municipal Court accusing DeWine of seven felony and three misdemeanor charges.

The charges were quickly rejected by a county prosecutor.