Womick seeks Haslam impeachment over gay marriage

MURFREESBORO – State Rep. Rick Womick is calling for impeachment of Gov. Bill Haslam for accepting the gay-marriage ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and of the five justices for making the decision.

"I am looking at impeachment proceedings," the Republican lawmaker from Rutherford County said during a Tuesday phone interview.

Womick contends that Haslam should enforce the Tennessee Constitution and the amendment approved by voters in a referendum that bans gay marriage because the U.S. Supreme Court has no authority to rule on marriage.

"He (Haslam) changed the constitution and changed state law without addressing the General Assembly," said Womick, who lives in the Rockvale community southwest of Murfreesboro. "He failed to uphold his oath to the state. He went and altered state law. He put homosexuals on marriages licenses.

"He did not consult the General Assembly on any of this. He did this based on the five rogue justices in Washington, D.C. He doesn't have that power, and, therefore, we are looking at impeachment proceedings."

Haslam spokesman David Smith Tuesday declined to comment about Womick's assertions.

"Yeah," Smith said. "I'm not going to respond to that."

The 5-4 June 26 ruling by the nation's top court violates the 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution that reserve authority not identified in the U.S. Constitution to the people and states, Womick suggested.

"The governor ignored our (Tennessee) Constitution," Womick said. "He ignored state law and changed it himself. He does not have the power to change the state law or the constitution like he did."

Womick also said he wants to see Congress impeach the five justices who ruled in the majority on the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I am working with (U.S. Rep.) Scott DesJarlais to impeach those five justices," Womick said.

DesJarlais, a fellow Republican from South Pittsburg, acknowledged that he listened to what Womick had to say about the impeachment idea.

"A lot of people in Tennessee were disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision and feel that it was a step in the wrong direction for states rights," DesJarlais said during a Tuesday phone interview. "He contacted me about the idea, and I did not have answers for him."

DesJarlais spokesman Robert Jameson said during the phone conversation that the congressman directed his staff to look into the issue.

When it comes to the gay marriage here, state Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III's office had defended the state's position to not recognize gay marriage performed in other states but was disappointed by the Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal throughout the country, spokesman Harlow B. Sumerford said.

"The attorney general's advice to county clerks is to comply with the Supreme Court decision and promptly issue licenses," Sumerford said in an email. "Under State law, officials authorized to conduct ceremonies may do so at their discretion. However, as Attorney General Slatery has said, our best advice is, 'Do not discriminate.'"

Sumerford noted that the attorney general can only offer legal advice to county clerks.

"We don't have any authority," Sumerford said in a telephone interview. "We don't represent county clerks."

Slatery had served as legal counsel for the governor before accepting appointment by the Tennessee Supreme Court to be attorney general, whose office provides legal counsel for state government and represents the state in lawsuits.

Womick also posted on his personal Facebook page his opposition to the governor's acceptance of the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.

"He changed Tennessee state law and our state constitution without ever consulting with the General Assembly ..." Womick said.

"I think it's time to give serious consideration to impeachment hearings against Gov. Haslam and these five rogue SCOTUS justices!" Womick posted Monday night along with a video of South Carolina state Sen. Lee Bright, who was railing against gay marriage.

Calling the majority of Supreme Court justices who ruled in favor of marriage equality "five self-appointed gods in black robes," Womick called for their impeachment also.

Last August Womick called Haslam a "traitor to the party" over what he called efforts by a political action committee run by supporters to defeat opponents of Common Core education standards.

Womick noted that he sent a letter to the governor's office taking issue with what he perceived as Haslam trying to do away with opponents in the legislature and on the state Republican Party's executive committee.

Contact Scott Broden at 615-278-5158 or sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.

Contact Michelle Willard 615-278-5164 or mwillard@dnj.com. Follower her on Twitter @MichWillard.