Gov. DeWine responds to impeachment efforts as COVID-19 hospitalizations upswing
As of Monday, a record 1,180 COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds, double the amount of patients that were in ICU beds on November 1st.
TOLEDO, Ohio — A handful of Ohio Republican lawmakers on Monday filed 12 articles of impeachment against Governor Mike DeWine over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been praised by leaders on both sides of the aisle, including President-Elect Joe Biden.
“At some point, this foolishness has got to stop,” DeWine said. “I’m not talking about most Ohioans — just a small number of people, who for whatever reason, just continue to think and act this is some big joke, and this is all some fantasy.”
Ohio Representative John Becker, (R) Union Township/Clermont County (District 65) claims in a news release that the governor has weaponized the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to bully, and harass businesses, as well as Ohioans. Becker claims that the governor mismanaged the pandemic by closing and placing curfews on certain businesses, while allowing other businesses to remain open. He claims that Governor DeWine’s mask mandate made Ohio a hostile work environment. The representative from Southwest Ohio even believes that DeWine meddled in the presidential primary election by implementing COVID-19 restrictions.
Governor DeWine says that he wishes his Republican colleagues would pay attention to doctors and nurses who have made it clear that their hospitals are overwhelmed with Ohioans that have been diagnosed with COVID-19, some deathly ill, and residents with stories of regret from not taking the virus seriously.
The Ohio Department of Health reported 6,242 newly confirmed cases, 342 hospitalizations and 30 additional deaths on Monday. The ODH’s website has a notice above the new COVID-19 data, stating there are still thousands of reports pending review.
