LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield has slapped down calls by some Republican lawmakers that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be impeached.

The Levering Republican on Wednesday called the effort a distraction from what needs to be done in the state. Milford Township Republican Rep.

Matt Maddock began the talk of impeaching Whitmer after health director Robert Gordon implemented the three-week shut down of parts of Michigan's economy in an effort to stem the accelerating spread of COVID-19.

Maddock said Whitmer "crossed the line" on COVID-19 restrictions without legislative input.

However, Chatfield said an effort to impeach Whitmer would lack merit and would be every bit as "shameful" as the impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump.

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