Senator Augustine Chea, the Legal Advisor of the Liberian Senate and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee has harshly condemned his colleagues for aligning with the majority bloc of the House of Representatives, led by Representative Richard Koon, as Speaker. In a strongly worded statement, Chea called the Senate’s decision an “attack on the Rule of Law.”
In an emotional press conference at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Chea expressed his profound disappointment in the Senate’s actions. “It is a sad day for Mama Liberia,” he declared, condemning the move as undermining the country’s legal and democratic principles.
The controversy stems from a resolution passed by the Senate on Tuesday, recognizing the majority bloc in the House of Representatives and agreeing to conduct business with them. This decision followed a controversial interpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling by the Minister of Justice, N. Oswald Tweh. In a press briefing, Tweh asserted that the majority bloc had the constitutional authority to act on behalf of the House, deeming their sessions lawful based on the Court’s decision.
However, Senator Chea vehemently disagrees with this interpretation. He criticized the Senate for relying on the Justice Minister’s opinion, given his role within the Executive Branch. “I am the Legal Advisor to the Senate. My legal opinion should have informed the Senate’s decision, not the Attorney General, who advises the Executive Branch of Government,” Chea argued.
Chea also revealed that he had previously advised the Senate to remain neutral and engage with both factions in the House. Unfortunately, his advice was ignored. In his absence, Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence announced the Senate’s decision to side with the majority bloc, a move Chea described as unilateral and lacking due process.
Additionally, Chea criticized the Senate for disregarding the findings of a Special Committee, led by Grand Bassa County Senator Gbezongar Findley, which was tasked with mediating between the rival House factions. Chea pointed out that the committee had never submitted its report, leaving the Senate’s decision unsubstantiated by comprehensive deliberation.
“I maintain my position as the official legal counsel and Chair of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee: we have proceeded wrongly, and this decision should be nullified,” Chea stated. He expressed concern that the decision undermines the Senate’s independence and erodes public trust in the Legislature’s impartiality.
Chea also warned of the long-term consequences of the Senate’s actions, including potential damage to Liberia’s international standing and a further decline in the country’s rule-of-law rankings. “We are undermining law and order,” he emphasized, arguing that the Justice Minister’s opinion should not be treated as the definitive interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Further, Chea expressed concern about the Senate’s willingness to align with Koon’s faction on critical legislative matters, such as the passage of the national budget. He warned that this alignment compromises the Senate’s integrity and democratic principles.
“If democracy must be strong, it must be supported by the rule of law, not the other way around,” Chea asserted. He called on his colleagues to reconsider their actions, stressing the risk of undermining Liberia’s legal framework and democratic values. Chea urged the Senate to reclaim its independence and uphold its role as an impartial body of elders, as the public expects.
“We did not act as elders as perceived in the public,” Chea concluded, emphasizing the need for the Legislature to prioritize the rule of law over political expediency.
