Pacific

CNMI Governor issued with summons for Senate trial in March

14:31 pm on 20 February 2013

The Senate trial of the impeached Governor of the Northern Marianas, Benigno Fitial, will begin on March the seventh.

The Saipan Tribune reports that the Governor has been served with a writ summoning him to appear before the Senate to respond to charges laid against him by the legislature.

Last week, the House of Representatives impeached Mr Fitial on 18 charges of corruption, felony and neglect of duty.

The Senate will appoint a judge to preside over the trial, and the Senators will serve as the jurors.

If at least six of the nine Senators convict the governor on one of the 18 charges, he will lose his job.

Mr Fitial is the first Governor of any US insular area to be impeached.