The Court of Impeachment recommended the conviction of Senator Jacob Whisenant on one impeachment charge. Articles against all Student Government executive members and 34 other senators were dismissed.
Five articles of impeachment were filed against Whisenant and former Senator Donnie Lapsley on Aug. 21. The court recommended conviction on article five: “Hindering Efficient Progress.”
Article five accuses Whisenant of causing “unnecessary delays and confusion in Senate operations.” This, according to the articles, disrupted senate business.
Senator Ash Jacobson, who was part of the Court of Impeachment, voted for conviction and expressed frustration with Whisenant’s actions.
“I think (Whisenant’s) behavior over the course of the 117th student senate has been generally disruptive and slowing to a comical extent sometimes,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson also said Whisenant forced roll call votes to disrupt the flow of passing bills by unanimous consent. When a senator objects for a bill to pass by unanimous consent, a roll call vote must happen.
During roll call votes, the names of senators are called off one by one, which Jacobson said takes a while.
Senator Grant Dworzanowski, who was also on the court, voted for conviction and spoke on Whisenant’s behavior.
“It’s been super disruptive,” Dworzanowski said. “We haven’t been able to get a lot done. Everyone in senate has been super frustrated.”
Dworzanowski said he hopes the Court of Impeachment proceedings will get Student Government back to business.
“I think this Court of Impeachment was important for being able to get back on track,” Dworzanowski said.
Following the Court of Impeachment, Whisenant said none of his actions slowed down Student Government.
“I have exercised my right as student senator to do roll call votes on important pieces of legislation,” Whisenant said. “When I submitted these articles of impeachment, there was no intent to disrupt.”
Whisenant said it is within his right to submit articles of impeachment.
Article one, “Violation of Oath of Office,” was dismissed by a vote of four yeas, three nays and three abstentions. Article two, “Violation of Student Government Constitution & Codes,” was dismissed by a vote of six nays and four abstentions. Article three, “Dereliction of Duty – Disruption of Proceedings,” was dismissed by a vote of six yeas, one nay and three abstentions. Article four, “Dereliction of Duty – Disruption of Proceedings,” was dismissed by a vote of five yeas, two nays and three abstentions.
Whisenant's trial will be held at the student senate’s meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
34 senators
All three articles against 34 senators of the 117th student senate were dismissed by a vote of nine nays to one yea.
The articles were “Violation of the Student Government Oath of Office,” “Violation of the Student Government Constitution and Codes” and “Failure to Maintain Academic and Fiduciary Responsibility”.
Chief Justice of the Constitutional Council Elijah Butcher
All articles of impeachment against Chief Justice of the Constitutional Council Elijah Butcher were dismissed by a vote of nine nays to one yea.
According to the articles, an email written by Butcher described the Court of Impeachment meeting as “closed-door,” with no discussion or debate. They also claim he is biased towards Whisenant's organization, Uncensored America, because of a column he wrote for The Daily Gamecock regarding Uncensored America.
President Courtney Tkacs and Vice President Jordan Richardson
All articles against Student Body President Courtney Tkacs and Vice President Jordan Richardson were dismissed by a vote of nine nays to one yea.
The articles accused the Tkacs-Richardson Campaign of using the social media account “CockyFanClub” to build a follower base prior to the campaign period, as well as using TikTok to defame political opponents.
Treasurer Ashley Reynolds
All articles against Treasurer Ashley Reynolds were dismissed by a vote of eight nays, one yea and one abstention.
The articles accused Reynolds of unauthorized funding policy creation, as well as unauthorized targeted audits towards student organizations and misrepresenting facts regarding funding to administrators and peers.
Speaker Maura Hamilton
All articles against Speaker Maura Hamilton were dismissed by a vote of nine nays to one yea.
The articles accused Hamilton of cutting down a campaign banner, not making information public in a timely manner, silencing communication in the senate and preventing the senate from functioning.