NM House speaker rejects petition to impeach Gov. Lujan Grisham for treason

The Democratic speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives says there is no way he would initiate impeachment proceedings against the state’s governor for withdrawing troops from the border with Mexico.

An online petition seeks to impeach Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for treason in withdrawing about 100 New Mexico National Guard troops and has garnered more than 30,000 signatures.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Brian Egolf of Santa Fe said “no way, forget about it” regarding prospects for impeachment proceedings. He holds the authority to initiate House investigations.

Lujan Grisham has challenged President Trump’s description of a security crisis on the border, while leaving about a dozen national guardsmen at the border to address humanitarian needs in a remote corridor for border-crossing immigration.

Impeachment in New Mexico requires a majority vote of all House members. A subsequent Senate trial requires a two-thirds majority to convict.

As of Tuesday, more than 30,000 people had endorsed the online petition that urges a Republican state legislator to charge Lujan Grisham with treason for aiding illegal entry into the country.

Lujan Grisham has ordered all but a dozen New Mexico National Guard troops to return from the border in a move that challenges President Trump’s description of a security crisis. California Gov. Gavin Newsom also has ordered the withdrawal of most state National Guard troops from the border.

The creator of the impeachment petition against Lujan Grisham identified himself as John Daniel of Ruidoso. He could not immediately be reached.