State lawmakers want Capitol Police chief placed on administrative leave
More than 70 legislators urge Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck to investigate Chief Russell Gauvin s social media posts questioning U.S. election results and mask wearing for COVID-19 prevention.
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AUGUSTA More than 70 state lawmakers are urging Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck to put the chief of the state’s Capitol Police force on administrative leave and investigate his social media posts.
Chief Russell Gauvin, photographed shortly after he was hired as Capitol Police chief in 2006.
Photo from Capitol Police Maine Facebook page
Capitol Police Chief Russell Gauvin apologized last week for the posts, which questioned the U.S. election results and the value of masks for COVID-19 prevention, and deleted the Facebook account they were associated with. But 71 lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, and Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, s
Gov. Janet Mills and Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said they are troubled by State Capitol Police Chief Russ Gauvin's social media posts deriding mask mandates, questioning the results of the presidential election and supporting a police officer who called for violence against Black Lives Matter protesters.
Lawmakers violate Legislature’s COVID-19 prevention policies
A group of Republican legislators without masks is shown on a recent Facebook Live video in clear violation of the State House policy for face coverings.
Some Republican state lawmakers have violated a policy on mask wearing in the State House that was approved by legislative leaders from both parties to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Rep. Shelley Rudnicki, R-Fairfield, posted a Facebook Live video on Jan. 5 that features short interviews with five other Republican legislators inside the State House, apparently in the offices of the Republican minority caucus on the building’s third floor. The video shows at least seven lawmakers – all Republicans – and none are complying with the policy on face coverings set in December by the Legislative Council, which includes the Legislature’s presiding officers and the minority and majority leaders and assistants for both parties.