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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	June 15, 2020 09:35 AM
From:	Senator Daylin Leach
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Special Committee on Senate Address to Investigate Montgomery County Commissioner Joseph C. Gale

Soon I will introduce legislation to appoint a special committee on Senate Address under Article VI, Section 7, of the Pennsylvania Constitution to investigate possible violations of law and policy by Montgomery County Commissioner Joseph C. Gale. On May 25, 2020, a white Minneapolis police officer murdered African-American George Floyd by kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. A video recording of the murder was quickly seen by millions of people. Peaceful protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the United States of America erupted around the world. On June 1, 2020, Gale published a press release on Montgomery County letterhead characterizing the protestors as violent criminals, terrorists, and enemy combatants. Gale also characterized Black Lives Matter, a peaceful movement that seeks to eradicate white supremacy and end state-sponsored violence against Black communities, as a hate group that seeks to “unleash chaos and mayhem without consequence.” Gale’s statements may have violated the law, ethics rules, and county policy. My resolution would appoint a special committee on Senate Address to investigate Gale’s conduct to determine whether he violated the law or county policy. The committee would consist of three members of the Majority party appointed by the President pro tempore, one of whom would be designated as chairman of the committee; three members of the Minority party appointed by the President pro tempore, in consultation with the Minority Leader; and the President pro tempore serving as an ex-officio voting member of the committee. The committee would have complete freedom to determine the scope and length of its investigation.   Please join me in supporting this important legislation.   If you have questions about this legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

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