McGreevey’s Resignation Covers Up Real Crime
Impeachment is the only answer

By Joe Giardiello

New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey has done a good job so far in covering up the real reason for his resignation.

If all there was to this story was that Governor McGreevey had a homosexual liaison it is exceeding unlikely that he would feel any public pressure to leave office. 

Let’s face it – If that were all he did he would be considered a hero of his party and be given a prime speaking spot at the next Democratic Party convention. 

McGreevey’s spin control, which he has been allowed to get away with up to this point, was to make the announcement that he was resigning because of the shame his marital infidelity brought upon him.  The fact now fixed in everyone’s mind is that McGreevey’s resignation was a “courageous” act, as attested to by former Republican Governor Christie Whitman, by someone truly sorry for his indiscretions.

Not so fast.  Contrary to what McGreevey and the press would like us to believe, McGreevey is not resigning because he had a gay affair.  He is resigning because he knows he committed an impeachable offense.  According to several media sources, the person was involved with is Golan Cipel, described by the press as an Israeli poet.

His crime here is that he gave his homosexual lover a state job so he could keep him close at hand.  And not only did he give him a taxpayer-funded job for which he was clearly not qualified, he gave him a job as Homeland Security Advisor.

(Remember that next time some Democrat tells you he is going to be tough on terrorism.).

So far we have not learned whether McGreevey made this appointment before, after or during his sexual affair with Cipel – a man with exactly zero experience in homeland security.  But based on the evidence available now, it would seem unlikely McGreevey would have appointed a poet to such an important position without ulterior motives.  Either McGreevey was giving his lover a cushy state job or he was giving in to blackmail by a long-time friend and former campaign aide.”

Under the New Jersey Constitution, if McGreevey were to leave office before November 15, the state would be required to hold a special election to fill the remainder of his term. 

McGreevey’s decision to wait to resign is a cynical political ploy and he should not be rewarded for it.  The New Jersey Legislature should begin impeachment proceedings immediately. 

  

NEW JERSEY CONSTITUTION Ariticle VII Section III

l. The Governor and all other State officers, while in office and for two years thereafter, shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor committed during their respective continuance in office.

2. The General Assembly shall have the sole power of impeachment by vote of a majority of all the members. All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate, and members, when sitting for that purpose, shall be on oath or affirmation "truly and impartially to try and determine the charge in question according to the evidence". No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate. When the Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside and the President of the Senate shall not participate in the trial.

3. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and to disqualification to hold and enjoy any public office of honor, profit or trust in this State; but the person convicted shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial and punishment according to law.

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