Vos: Impeachment is not off the table
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is not ruling out impeachment after two former state Supreme Court justices advised him against the unprecedented step of removing liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz.
The Rochester Republican told reporters Thursday impeachment is "absolutely not" off the table and wants to see how the new liberal-controlled state Supreme Court rules on a case challenging the state's legislative maps first.
"We know ultimately that if they decide to inject their own political bias instead of the process and not follow the law, we have the ability to go to the U.S. Supreme Court and we also have the ability to hold her [Protasiewicz] accountable to the voters of Wisconsin," Vos said.
Vos is "absolutely not" ruling out impeachment after two former state Supreme Court justices advised him against the unprecedent step of removing liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz.
— Emilee Fannon (@Emilee_Fannon) October 12, 2023
.@repvos wants to see how the SCOWIS rules on case challenging the state's legislative maps first https://t.co/QAZEDKwDUq pic.twitter.com/N7k1OecY32
Vos is keeping his options open after two out of three former justices he asked to review the possibility of impeaching Protasiewicz warned against the move.
Justices David Prosser, Jon Wilcox, and Patience Roggensack were tapped by Vos last month, which was revealed in court filing this week.
Prosser and Wilcox have both signaled opposition to impeachment which is used against government officials for corruption in office or for crimes and misdemeanors, under state law.
In an email to Vos, Prosser said in the absence of a crime, especially in office, impeachment must be based on "extremely serious conduct."
Vos stressed he will focus on the actions Protasiewicz takes from the bench to determine whether impeachment is necessary.
Republicans have argued Protasieiwcz is biased because she called the current maps "rigged" while campaigning and for receiving about $10 million from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
On Friday, Protasiewicz announced she will not recuse herself from a redistricting lawsuit seeking to draw new legislative maps before the 2024 election and "plans to follow the law."
She added in her recusal note, "I tell you what my values are because I think that Supreme Court candidates should share with the community and the electorate what their values are. Nonetheless, I will uphold the law -- follow the Constitution when I make any decisions. Nothing is prejudged."
"Let's hope she sticks to her word," Vos said.
Should the Assembly move forward with impeachment, Republicans in the Senate are unlikely to follow suit. That's because this week two GOP lawmakers, Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Apple) have voiced opposition to impeaching Protasiewicz. Without their votes, the Senate would not have a two-thirds majority to convict.