The St. Joseph County Republican Party joined a citizen's action group in a march on the County-City Building in South Bend. Citizens United for a Better Government organized the Tuesday march.
GOPSJC Party Chair Deb Fleming says they want more transparency from the mayor's office in connection to the ongoing tapes controversy, but the word impeachment is also being thrown around. "There has been a lot of talk lately about impeachment. For now, we will ask only that Mayor Buttigieg's administration be more open with the public regarding the ongoing scandal regarding the demotion of Police Chief Boykins and all other matters," said Fleming.
The South Bend Common Council has voted to subpoena the tapes, but the deadline for the mayor to accept that subpoena has come and gone. The mayor has said his office cannot release the tapes without approval from a federal court.
"The next step now is to gather signatures on a petition to sit down with leadership in the House and Senate in Indiana asking that they look into impeaching Mayor Buttigieg for malfeasance," said Mario Sims with Citizens United.
Mayor Buttigieg responded after his nigh-in event. "I think that's absurd. I respect that people are upset with this issue. I took time with all of the folks who marched over. We sat down at this table in my office," the mayor said.
While the Saint Joe County Republican Party joined Citizens United for tonight's march, they are NOT calling for the mayor's impeachment at this point.
