State lawmaker announces articles of impeachment against Gov. Tim Walz

LONG PRAIRIE — A Republican state lawmaker announced he has filed articles of impeachment against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Rep. Mike Wiener, R-Long Prairie, posted the articles of impeachment on his Facebook page Monday, Jan. 12.

The document includes four articles justifying impeachment, alleging Walz is committing corrupt conduct and violating his oath of office. The articles allege Walz knowingly concealed widespread fraud in the state’s Department of Human Services; interfered with oversight and investigation into the fraud; prioritized political narratives over disclosure of fraud; and allowed statutory safeguards to be ignored or weakened.

Fellow Republican Rep. Ben Davis of Mission Township echoed the call for impeachment. He stated in a news release "the concerns surrounding oversight breakdowns, misuse of authority and unresolved allegations of misconduct warrant the start of impeachment proceedings against Gov. Tim Walz."

In Minnesota, the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment through the concurrence of a majority of all its members.

All impeachments are tried by the state Senate, and a conviction requires a two-thirds majority.

The impeachment articles come after some Republicans in the state have called on Walz to resign, which Walz has said he will not do.