GOP lawmaker threatened with expulsion for repeatedly blowing off work: report

A Republican state delegate in Maryland is being threatened with an expulsion resolution by a fellow Republican colleague, after repeatedly refusing to perform the basic duties of office.

According to The Baltimore Banner, "Del. Christopher Eric Bouchat, a Republican representing parts of Carroll and Frederick counties, has abandoned most of his duties in recent weeks, and several of his colleagues urged him to resign. But Bouchat refused. Then on Friday, Del. Lauren Arikan introduced a resolution to expel Bouchat from the 141-member House of Delegates."

Bouchat, per the report, has for "weeks" refused to attend votes and hearings in the legislature.

"For several weeks, Bouchat has typically shown up at the State House in Annapolis only to register his attendance in the House of Delegates chamber before leaving," said the report. "He hasn’t been voting on bills or attending bill hearings and voting sessions in the House Judiciary Committee, where he is assigned." Two months ago, he requested House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk remove him from the Judiciary Committee, but when she denied this request, he simply stopped showing up anyway.

After his colleagues started complaining about his refusal to work, per the report, "Bouchat ... offered to donate his salary to charities of their choosing. Eventually, Bouchat left blank $1,000 checks on the three lawmakers’ desks, according to Maryland Matters. The lawmakers quickly voided the checks and alerted the General Assembly’s ethics counsel, Maryland Matters reported."

“We have a lot of folks on the floor today who are fighting for their lives," said Arikan of her measure to expel Bouchat. "They are sick. They may have cancer. We have folks who have lost family members who are sitting here on the floor today, who are grieving. They’re here because the work we do is incredibly important.”