OPINION: SHAWN KEENAN — Rep. Remington’s decision requires state investigation

Let me be clear. I know who Pastor Tim is. I am personally aware of the people he has extended a second chance to. I lived next to one of his halfway homes. I have seen for my own eyes the people whose lives are now heading in a positive direction. For this good work I give him credit.

But for his egregious violation of public safety on Sunday, March 29, I am just stunned. When Pastor Tim Remington, now also a Representative of Idaho House District 2, decided to openly disregard the directive given by Gov. Brad Little to “stay at home,” he violated his oath of office to support the Idaho Constitution, which he stated in front of the Secretary of State, Lawerence Denny, when he was sworn in this past January.

According to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, Gov. Little has the power and constitutional authority under Article IV, sec 4 and 5, and Chapter 6, Title 46 of the Idaho code to issue the Stay at Home Order. By holding a church service this past Sunday, in which his members were welcome to attend, in person, Pastor Tim, as a representative and public servant of Idaho, maliciously put the lives of everyone in attendance, and everyone in contact with those in attendance, including in the public spaces those members may have visited after the sermon, in grave danger of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

Rep. Remington knowingly violated the public trust of protecting public health and safety, and therefore should be removed from office for his flagrant act of public endangerment. By leaving his doors open for public gathering, he puts our entire community in danger. In fact, Pastor Tim proclaimed to his worshipers on Sunday that “the stay at home order violated their rights.” He could have asked his entire flock to follow the law and stay home to watch his sermon online. This would have been acceptable and responsible. Instead he risked the lives of my family and yours.

For Rep. Remington’s grievous error in judgment, Gov. Little must demand a full investigation for possible immediate expulsion.

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Shawn Keenan, of Coeur d’Alene, leads the Idaho Kootenai County COVID-19 Mutual Aid Group on Facebook, which now has about 1,900 members.