A Virginia politician is calling for the impeachment of state Attorney General Mark Herring because he refuses to defend the state's gay marriage ban.
Delegate Bob Marshall released a statement on 23 May, announcing the introduction of two resolutions to the Virginia House of Delegates to inquire if the attorney general's actions warrant removal from office.
'I take this step reluctantly, fully mindful of the seriousness of this action,' Marshall wrote. 'Impeachment is one of the most serious powers conferred upon the House of Delegates.'
'However, Mr. Herring has ignored all requests to conform his actions to Virginia’s Constitution and our statutes, as well as engaging in a series of deliberate acts which force the filing of these resolutions,' the Republican continued.
As the site Think Progress notes, Marshall has 'a long reputation of anti-gay comments.' When the US military's prohibition against open service was repealed, the delegate tried to keep gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the state's National Guard.
Elected this past November Herring, a Democrat, announced he would not argue for Virginia's Marriage Amendment in any suits because it 'unlawfully discriminates on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender.'
'Mr. Herring has put his own political and personal views ahead of his duties and responsibilities as Attorney General,' Marshall maintains.
This past February Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen ruled in favor of two same-sex couples, insisting the law restricts personal freedom, and cause serious harm to loving and committed couples and their families.
Allen's decision was appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
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