MONROVIA, Montserrado – The opposition Liberty Party has suspended the membership of Grand Bassa’s Senator Jonathan Kaipay for allegedly violating his oath to uphold the constitution of the country as a senator and violating the constitution of the party, which highlights respect for the rule of law.

The suspension followed the Liberian Senate’s vote on Friday to impeach former Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh from the Supreme Court.

A letter signed by the party’s national chairman, Sen. Steve Zargo, accused the Grand Bassa lawmaker of violating his oath of office and the party’s constitution by aligning with other senators who chose to violate the constitution.

The party said Kaipay’s action was also in flagrant deviation from his commitment to the country and the party, even after a meeting the National Executive Committee held with him and other lawmakers to discuss the party’s position on the ‘unconstitutional’ impeachment of Ja’neh.

Sen. Jonathan Kaipay. Photo: Mustapha Kommeh

“During the said meeting, the party’s position on the impeachment process was discussed and agreed upon; you assured the party that you would have joined our two other senators, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and Steve Amadou Zargo, in enforcing our stance against the wanton circumvention of the constitution of Liberia which you and your colleagues took oath to protect,” the communication read.

Although the votes to impeach the former associate justice was done on secret ballots, the party’s executive committee said it has learned that the lawmaker voted in favor of the impeachment. According to the communication, the suspension would remain enforced pending an assembly of the National Executive Committee.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah