PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania Senate has accepted articles of impeachment against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, setting the stage for a trial in the chamber set to begin in January.
Impeachment manager Rep. Craig Williams, R-Chadds Ford, took an hour to formally present the seven articles of impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday, laying out each of the charges against Krasner.
“District Attorney Krasner, by and through his failed policies and procedures and throughout the discharge of his duties as Philadelphia's chief law enforcement officer, has been derelict in his obligations,” said Williams.
“He has deliberately eviscerated the district attorney's office’s ability to adequately enforce the laws of this commonwealth, endanger the health, welfare and safety of more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians that reside in Philadelphia.”
In addition to accepting the articles of impeachment and swearing in members, the Senate passed a writ of summons resolution to be issued to Krasner, giving him the opportunity to respond to the articles by Dec. 21, and to appear before the Senate on Jan. 18.
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But minority leader Sen. Jay Costa, D-Pittsburgh, once again voiced concerns over the timing, as he argues the resolutions behind the articles of impeachment expire Wednesday night with the end of session.
“The constitution of our commonwealth and prior practice of this body are very clear that any business before the Senate in the house that has not been fully completed ceases to exist,” said Costa.
Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Kittanning, countered, “All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. Those are not my words. Those are not the words of an opinion editorial piece. Those are not the words of a state law. Those are the words of the commonwealth constitution.”
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Hawley, argued the constitution makes it clear the Senate must hold the trial.
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“The Pennsylvania Constitution in Article 6, Section 5 requires that in the event the House of Representatives sends over articles of impeachment, the Senate shall — not may, shall — take action. Hence, the reason we are assembled today,” she said.
A two-thirds majority, or 34 of 50 votes, is required to reach a conviction and removal from office. Republicans were set to hold a 28-22 majority next session, but there will be a vacancy as Republican state Sen. John Gordner is retiring, effective at the end of the day.
Krasner says he’ll continue his court challenge of the legality of the impeachment process, which he calls “an authoritarian measure to erase Philadelphians’ votes.”