3 May 2008

Lobby group in American Samoa asks House and Senate to impeach Lt governor

9:52 am on 3 May 2008

A lobby group in American Samoa, Common Cause, is asking the Fono to remove the Lt. Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia and senator Tulifua Lam Yuen.

Common Cause President Ben Teo distributed a letter to the chairmen of all standing committees of both the House and Senate asking the Lt, Governor be impeached, and for Senator Tulifua Lam Yuen be removed.

The copies of the federal government's criminal complaint against the two officials were attached.

Mr Teo said since the Lt, Governor has not voluntarily stepped down until the matter is resolved Common Cause feels that local action is required.

He said they decided to approach the Fono as under the law the legislature is where impeachment proceedings are initiated .