PRINTER'S NO. 4004
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
920
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, BRIGGS, HILL-EVANS, HANBIDGE, NEILSON,
KINSEY, KENYATTA, ULLMAN, SANCHEZ, DALEY, LEE, FIEDLER,
CIRESI, SCHWEYER AND RABB, JUNE 23, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 23, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Impeaching Joseph C. Gale, Montgomery County Commissioner, for
misbehavior in office.
BE IT RESOLVED, That Joseph C. Gale, Montgomery County
Commissioner, be impeached for misbehavior in office and that
the following be exhibited to the Senate:
On June 1, 2020, Joseph C. Gale issued a press statement
under the Seal of the County of Montgomery in which he, without
evidence or cause, disparaged and defamed the Black Lives Matter
movement by declaring them "terrorists" seeking to "justify the
lawless destruction of our cities and surrounding communities,"
despite the fact that they represent peaceful and civil
protestors seeking redress for four centuries of grievances,
including racially-motivated oppression, rape, exploitation and
murder.
Joseph C. Gale did make these inflammatory and derisive
statements despite the overwhelmingly peaceful and civil nature
of protests throughout this Commonwealth, the United States and
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at least 17 countries around the world in support of the civil
rights of people of color.
Joseph C. Gale has demonstrated by this and subsequent
statements his contempt for the people of Montgomery County and
his deliberate unwillingness to uphold its values of decency,
morality, respectability, civility, equality and unity.
Joseph C. Gale engaged in a potentially unlawful and
distinctly shameful use of a public office and public resources
for no legitimate governmental purpose, utilizing his office to
engage in and promote libelous and unsupported hate speech for
his own political gain, as evidenced by the prominent display of
his statement of June 1, 2020, on his personal campaign website.
Joseph C. Gale used the County Seal and masthead bearing the
words "Board of Commissioners, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania"
to legitimize racist rhetoric, thereby deliberately and falsely
implying that his statements were an official statement of the
Montgomery County government.
Joseph C. Gale was formally censured by the County of
Montgomery on June 4, 2020, for his "hateful, divisive and
false" statements.
Joseph C. Gale is the subject of a petition calling for his
immediate resignation which has, as of June 9, 2020, more than
80,000 signatures; and has been the subject of numerous peaceful
public protests calling for his immediate resignation.
Joseph C. Gale expressed views which law enforcement
officials in Montgomery County have described as increasing
danger for law enforcement officers, undermining their authority
by disrespecting a large proportion of his constituents
and unilaterally declaring that those seeking justice are
"terrorists."
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Joseph C. Gale has failed in his duty to provide words of
unity, calm and compassion during this difficult time following
the killing of George Floyd by a police officer, and has instead
deliberately endangered his constituents through the use
of language that incites violence and division.
Joseph C. Gale has abused his position to promulgate and
promote racist and ignorant comments that have legitimized and
increased fear and hatred of people of color within Montgomery
County.
Joseph C. Gale abused his position via an unwarranted
assumption of authority to attack and undermine elected
officials in Philadelphia County, a county over which he has no
jurisdiction or oversight.
Wherefore, Commissioner Joseph C. Gale is guilty
of impeachable offenses warranting removal from office and
disqualification to hold any office or trust in
this Commonwealth.
The House of Representatives hereby reserves the right and
ability to exhibit at any time hereafter further Articles of
Impeachment against Commissioner Gale, to reply to any answers
that Commissioner Gale may make to any Articles of Impeachment
which are exhibited and to offer proof at trial in the Senate in
support of each and every Article of Impeachment which shall be
exhibited by them.
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