Judiciary committee forwards resident’s request on presidential impeachment to full council

The Butte County Judiciary Committee voted to forward to the full council a communication from resident Mark Philip asking the U.S. House of Representatives to consider impeaching President Trump.

Philip, identified in his submission as "Mark Philip, 1150 West Gold, Butte, Montana," told the committee he had supplied a streamlined letter and a longer resolution and said he would be willing to narrow language to focus on what he characterized as "an unconstitutional and illegal start of a war of aggression." He said he provided the committee with supporting exhibits and legal sources he considered authoritative.

County Attorney Enroth cautioned commissioners that "no court or Congress has found [the conduct] to be unconstitutional at this time," and advised the committee to avoid language that presents a legal finding as established fact. Several commissioners echoed concerns about phrasing and the appropriate form for expressing the community’s view.

Commissioner Thatcher said she sympathized with Philip’s concerns but opposed taking formal action, arguing impeachment is not within the duties of local government and warning that such a statement could be seen as partisan and have practical consequences for local funding. "I don't believe that this is in our realm of duties as local government officials," Thatcher said.

Commissioner Gerbrandt and Commissioner Callahan expressed support for Philip’s request; Gerbrandt read a passage asking the House to "check this abuse of power" and to "restore honor and moral authority to the United States." Callahan praised Philip’s preparation and urged the committee to send the communication on to federal representatives.

Commissioner Mankins asked whether sending a letter would effect impeachment; County Attorney Enroth replied, "No, only Congress, the United States Congress, has the authority to impeach the President of the United States," explaining that impeachment requires House action and then a Senate trial. Several commissioners said that distinction meant the body’s action would be symbolic and that Philip, as a private citizen, could send the same communication to the delegation.

The group also debated form. Thatcher noted Philip initially provided a draft resolution (a recorded action) rather than a simple letter, while County Attorney Enroth said the county had previously drafted resolutions that supported letters but that a letter could be sent as a normal communication without a formal resolution. Philip said he had provided the letter that evening and asked the committee to decide the form it preferred.

Commissioner Healey suggested changing wording so the committee would state what it "believes" rather than assert a legal finding; Philip agreed to consider that clarification for the letter.

At the committee’s conclusion, Commissioner Thatcher moved to "move communication number 2026-175 to the full council for discussion and consideration." The motion received a second, the committee voted in favor and the motion passed; the transcript records the outcome but does not include a roll-call tally. The committee then adjourned.

The committee’s vote forwarded the communication for further consideration by the full Council of Commissioners; no final policy, ordinance or formal determination of law was adopted during the Judiciary Committee meeting.