The public poured into the City Hall courtroom on July 21 to see the trial of the century. The sitting Governor, Ella Bright-Starr, was faced with felony charges in an incident that took place on July 3 at her residential home. The prosecution alleged that Ella overstepped her bounds and threatened both the Chief Justice and an Associate Justice with a firearm. An embattled defense tried to claim her innocence, and that the incident was a legitimate case of self-defense.
After a two-and-a-half hour trial, Bright-Starr was found guilty on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but not guilty on the charge of false imprisonment and the charge of uttering threats. For the aggravated assault, Governor Bright-Starr was sentenced to 30 months and a fine of $2500.
{Editorial disclosure: Becks Lawson was the author of the state’s self-defense law, which can be found on: H.R. 112 – The San Andreas Self Defense Act.)
A press release from newly elected State Representative Maxine Finch shared that the new Congress could consider impeachment of the Governor depending on the results of the trial. With the verdict newly delivered, we’ll have to wait for the Legislature to meet and determine their options.
Bright-Starr’s position in office as a felon is unprecedented legal territory for San Andreas; Shout News will update this article should she be removed from office. Her removal would put Quinn Lillegard-Marino in the Governor’s seat. In a recent conversation with Shout News, Lillegard-Marino confirmed she would accept the role should this happen.
UPDATE (10:35PM) The Legislature have filed to impeach Bright-Starr.
Impeachment proceedings require their own trial, where Bright-Starr’s defense will argue her continued suitability for office. Four legislators will need to vote aye after the trial to complete the impeachment process. You can find their press release here.
UPDATE (10:50 PM): Ella Bright-Starr Resigns and releases a statement after her trial.
Meanwhile, the Legislature release their own statement on the vote to impeach. In the document she indicates that she is resigning from the Office of Governor and dropped a number of emails.
With this, I am resigning from Governor, I gave it a go and had the odds stacked against me from day one. I thank you to all those that supported me over the few months I got to be here and attempted to clean things up.
Former Governor Bright-Starr
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