The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana's first impeachment trial of a sitting Governor started in the Senate on Friday.
The historic impeachment trial of Governor Ralph DLG Torres comes with trepidation and uncertainty from the House of Representatives as the Senate proceeded with the trial without prosecutors.
The governor of the Northern Marianas, Ralph Torres. Photo: CNMI Republican Facebook
The Senate didn't allow the House to field a team of prosecutors, insisting Senate rules only allow for one.
The House passed a resolution in January impeaching Torres for alleged commission of felonies, corruption, and neglect of duty, in violation of the CNMI Constitution.
The first few witnesses called on Friday defended Torres from corruption and neglect of duty charges lodged against him.
Friday's session centred around Torres' first-class trips to Oregon and Alaska in the USA.
Torres is the second governor in CNMI history to be impeached by the House.
Benigno R Fitial was the first governor to be impeached by the House when 16 representatives voted for his impeachment in 2013. He resigned before the Senate could start the trial.