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DE RUEHMV #0221/01 0471756
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FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8062
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 MONROVIA 000221 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND INR/AA-BGRAVES 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIAN LEGISLATIVE CRISIS: SPEAKER SNOWE RESIGNS 
 
REF: A. MONROVIA 00184 
     ¶B. MONROVIA 00127 
     ¶C. MONROVIA 00106 
     ¶D. MONROVIA 0083 
     ¶E. MONROVIA 0069 
     ¶F. MONROVIA 0065 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Silvia Eiriz for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  Edwin Snowe resigned as Speaker of the House 
of Representatives February 15, but retained his position as 
a member of the House.  At a press conference announcing his 
resignation, Snowe urged the international community and the 
Council of Churches to investigate allegations of bribery of 
legislators in exchange for support to remove him from office 
and said he would call for a neutral committee of lawmakers 
to conduct an investigation into the bribery charges.  Snowe 
warned that attempts to protect the "person or office" behind 
the bribery endangers Liberia's fragile democracy and 
characterized the relationship with President Ellen Johnson 
Sirleaf as having deteriorated from "policy differences to 
personal hatred."  Representative James Biney (NPP, Maryland 
County) told Poloff February 15 that the House of 
Representatives received Snowe's resignation letter just as 
it was adjourning its February 15 session.  Representative 
Bhofal Chambers (UP, Maryland County) told Poloff February 16 
that Snowe's resignation was accepted at a February 16 
Special Session of the House.  Representative Vinicius Hodges 
(LP, Grand Bassa) told Poloff February 15 that at a February 
14 meeting with supporters, Snowe had decided to preside at 
the February 15 session of the House in order to force 
discussion of the bribery issue and resign when a resolution 
to remove him was introduced.  Hodges said Snowe called him 
on February 15 to advise that he had decided to resign that 
day and suggested that someone "high up" had convinced Snowe 
to do so.  Representatives Biney, Chambers, and Hodges said 
the House will hold an election to fill the position of 
Speaker and Biney and Chambers forecast that the election 
would be held within approximately 3 weeks. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Edwin Snowe resigned as Speaker of the House of 
Representatives February 15, but retained his elected 
position as a member. (See text of resignation letter in 
paragraph 7.)  At a press conference held at his residence, 
Snowe announced that his resignation was "squarely based on 
upholding the rule of law" and was intended to "save himself, 
his family, and his life."  He stated that he does not enjoy 
the confidence of the majority of the legislators and they do 
not enjoy his confidence.  He said that the 18 legislators 
who had supported him since the House of Representatives 
reconvened from recess January 15 were not parties to the 
January 29 Supreme Court decision reinstating him as Speaker 
(See Reftel B) and were free to make a political decision 
about joining the rest of the legislators in future House 
sessions at the Unity Conference Center (UCC).  Snowe called 
on the international community and the Council of Churches to 
investigate allegations of bribery of legislators in exchange 
for support to remove him from office (See Reftels A, B, C, 
D, E, and F).  Snowe said he would "remain resolute" in 
investigating the bribery allegations and would call for a 
neutral committee of lawmakers (excluding those who signed 
the resolution removing him as Speaker) to conduct an 
investigation. Snowe warned that attempts to protect the 
"person or office" behind the bribery endangers Liberia's 
fragile democracy.  Snowe  characterized his relationship 
with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as having deteriorated 
from "policy differences to personal hatred." 
 
¶3. (C) Representative Vinicius Hodges (LP, Grand Bassa) told 
Poloff February 15 that Snowe had met with him and other 
legislators supporting Snowe in a 4-hour meeting on February 
¶14. Hodges said they decided that Snowe would preside at the 
February 15 session of the House of Representatives in order 
to ensure discussion of the bribery allegations in plenary 
and that Snowe would resign when a resolution removing him 
from the office of Speaker was brought to the floor.  Hodges 
said Snowe called him February 15 and said he would resign 
later in the day because "his conscience" would not allow him 
to preside over the House session at the UCC since it would 
contravene the January 29 Supreme Court decision. Hodges 
opined that someone "high up" must have convinced Snowe to 
resign.  Hodges expressed "disappointment" that "lawmakers 
are acting like lawbreakers" by not respecting the rule of 
law.   He warned that such behavior had plunged Liberia into 
civil war and "that another one will take place if we are not 
careful."  Hodges said he would resign his seat if his party 
had a stronger candidate to run in an election to replace 
him.  He noted that he is not a supporter of Snowe and would 
have been in favor of removing him as Speaker, but objected 
to the way it was done. Hodges said that from the floor of 
the House he will ask for an independent investigation into 
 
MONROVIA 00000221  002 OF 004 
 
 
the bribery allegations, even though he believes his 
legislative colleagues will not agree.  He said any 
investigation by the House Judiciary Committee into the 
bribery allegations will be a "sham." Hodges said the 
"credibility, integrity, independence, and morality" of the 
House of Representatives have been called into question and 
the lower chamber will become a "rubber stamp" for the 
executive. 
 
¶4. (C) Representative James Biney (NPP, Maryland County) told 
Poloff February 15 that the House of Representatives received 
Snowe's resignation letter just as it was adjourning its 
February 15 session.  He said he does not think Snowe will 
attend the House's next session on February 20. Biney, who 
supported the January 18 resolution removing Snowe that the 
Supreme Court declared null and void, said the bribery 
allegations must be investigated and that the precedent is 
that the legislature investigates its members who are charged 
with misconduct. Biney said he would not object to the 
appointment of an independent committee to examine the 
bribery charges if its procedures were clear.  Biney said the 
House of Representatives has become "less credible" to 
Liberian citizens and it must prove that it is not under 
undue influence by the President. 
 
¶5. (C) Representative Bhofal Chambers (UP, Maryland County) 
told Poloff February 16 that Snowe's resignation was accepted 
at a February 16 Special Session of the House of 
Representatives. Chambers said 32 legislators attended the 
Special Session; 30 voted to accept Snowe's resignation, 1 
abstained, and 1 did not vote.  Chambers said Snowe did not 
attend the Special Session.  Chambers described the events in 
the House of Representatives since it reconvened on January 
15 as "democracy in action" and said it is positive that "the 
guns are not speaking."  Chambers said he does not believe 
that citizens' confidence in the legislature has been 
dampened, noting that the capacity of members of Congress to 
explain legislative procedures to the public needs to be 
improved.  Chambers stated that the governing Unity Party 
(UP) has not yet decided whether it will put forth a 
candidate for Speaker and said he believes it should not do 
so "unless dramatic events" unfold.  Chambers said it is 
important to have someone who supports democracy as Speaker. 
Chambers told Poloff that he did not take any money to 
support Snowe's removal as Speaker and that he does not 
believe any other legislators did so.  However, he believes 
that the allegations of bribery should be investigated and 
said the precedent is that the legislature investigates its 
members who are charged with misconduct.  Chambers said that 
the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into the matter 
will be "objective."  Chambers described Snowe as 
"Machiavellian and traumatized" and as "a desperate man who 
needs counseling."  Chambers said that the best thing Snowe 
could do would be to also resign as a member of the House of 
Representatives and did not rule out Snowe's expulsion if he 
does not attend House sessions at the UCC. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Representatives Biney, Hodges, and Chambers said the 
House will hold an election to fill the position of Speaker. 
Biney and Chambers forecast that the election would be held 
within approximately 3 weeks.  Biney and Hodges mentioned the 
following members of the House as candidates to replace Snowe 
as Speaker: Edward Forh (CDC, Montserrado), Armah Sarnor (LP, 
Gbarpolu), Elijah Seah (APD, River Gee), Bhofal Chambers (UP, 
Maryland), Emmanuel Nuquay (Independent, Margibi), and 
Kettehkumuehn Murray (CDC, Montserrado).  Chambers told 
Poloff February 16 that he is not a candidate.  Murray 
presided over the legislators meeting separately from Snowe 
at the UCC.  A January 23 article in Liberia's "New Democrat" 
newspaper stated that Murray is wanted by the FBI for 
attempted rape.  Legatt advised Embassy that there are 
currently no outstanding arrest warrants in the USA against 
Murray.  According to court documents, arrest warrants for 
Murray were dismissed by the North Carolina State Assistant 
District Attorney in March 2006 and by the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation in May 2006. 
 
¶7. (U) Begin text of Snowe resignation letter. 
 
February 15, 2007 
The Honorable Members of the House of Representatives 
The 52nd National Legislature 
Republic of Liberia 
 
Honorable Members: 
I wish to recall that on the 22nd day of January 2007, Her 
Honor, Madam Justice Gladys K. Johnson issued the Alternative 
Writ of Prohibition, based on my Petition for the Writ of 
Prohibition, ordering that your attempt to oust me from the 
office of Speaker of the House of Representatives should be 
temporarily enjoined and that I remain the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives pending your filing of Returns to my 
 
MONROVIA 00000221  003 OF 004 
 
 
Petition and a full hearing.  You were also temporarily 
prohibited and enjoined from disturbing the status quo of the 
National Legislature at the time that its agricultural break 
was taken pending the disposition of the Prohibition 
proceedings. 
 
Because of the constitutional issues raised in the Petition 
and your Returns, the Prohibition proceeding was venued 
before the Supreme Court en banc, before whom arguments were 
subsequently entertained.  On the 29th day of January j2007 
the Supreme Court unanimously rendered its Opinion and Final 
Judgment granting the Peremptory Writ of Prohibition, which 
declared your attempt to oust me from the office of Speaker 
of the House of Representatives unconstitutional, null and 
void ab initio.  In its Opinion, the Supreme Court 
specifically addressed the issue of venue for the seating of 
the House of Representatives and the entire National 
Legislature, which issue was squarely raised in any Petition 
for the Writ of Prohibition and argued extensively by counsel 
for both sides.  And on this issue of venue, after having 
referred several times in the Opinion to the Unity Conference 
Center being situated in the Township of Virginia, the 
Supreme Court refereed the parties to Article 40 of the 
Constitution and emphasized that the House of Representatives 
and the entire National Legislature shall always sit in the 
city.  Moreover Volume IV of the Liberian Codes Revised 
Chapter I Section 3 of the Legislative Law Revised 1999 
provides that the Legislature shall meet and do legislative 
business in the Capitol City of Monrovia, the Seat of 
Government. 
 
Your initial response to the Supreme Court's Opinion and 
Judgment was to ignore and defy it; but apparently on second 
thought, you decided to honor only that portion regarding 
your unconstitutional and illegal attempt to oust me from the 
office of Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Your 
response was to "reinstate" me to the office of Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, not even realizing that the 
effect of the Supreme Court's Opinion and Judgment is that I 
was never removed from that office.  And since I was never 
removed from office, you could not "reinstate me."  That is, 
I have always been the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives of the 52nd Legislature and remain so, in the 
eyes of the law and the Constitution, as at the writing of 
this letter. 
 
As to the portion of the Supreme Court's Opinion regarding 
the venue for proceedings of the House of Representatives and 
the entire National Legislature, you have flagrantly ignored 
and defied the Supreme Court - the highest court of our land. 
 You have continued to meet and deliberate at the Unity 
Conference Center within the Township of Virginia even though 
the Supreme Court clearly confirmed Article 40 of the 
Constitution that the House of Representatives and the entire 
National Legislature shall meet in the same city. 
 
I have endeavored to have you see reason to subscribe to the 
Rule of Law, to honor and respect the Opinion and Judgment of 
our Supreme Court but to no avail.   On one occasion I even 
considered the possibility of joining you at the Unity 
Conference Center to prevail upon you to return to Monrovia, 
which is, by law, the seat of Government of the Republic of 
Liberia, to conduct the affairs of the House of 
Representatives; but it dawned upon me later from agitations 
from my constituents, that my joining you would have been 
both in violation of Article 40 of the Constitution and an 
affront to the Honorable Supreme Court and its Opinion and 
Judgment of the 29th day of January 2007.  So I did not join 
you at the Unity Conference Center to plea with you to return 
legislative deliberations to the legal seat of Government and 
since then, my renewed attempts to have you comply with the 
Opinion and Judgment of the Supreme Court have been rebuffed. 
 
It is clear to me that I will not succeed in convincing you 
to comply and subscribe to the Rule of Law and to honor and 
respect the Opinion and Judgment of the Supreme Court in all 
its ramifications.  On the other hand, I am unprepared to 
violate any provision of the Constitution, which I took the 
oath to uphold and defend when I was sworn into office as 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; and I am equally 
unprepared to disobey, disrespect and ridicule the Supreme 
Court and its Opinion and Judgment as you are doing by your 
continuous seating at the Unity Conference Center in the 
Township of Virginia. 
 
I sincerely believe that Liberia, as a country, should be our 
principal interest as public servants; political 
grandstanding and intellectual arrogance should never ever 
cause any public servant to lose sight of the greater 
interest of the Liberian people; and certainly, personal 
aggrandizement, personal ambitions or motivations should not 
cause us to sidestep the "good" that our beloved country 
 
MONROVIA 00000221  004 OF 004 
 
 
deserves after so many years of civil conflict. 
 
So as I will not capitulate to illegality and 
unconstitutionality, and as you are determined to continue 
your utter disregard and contempt for the Supreme Court's 
Opinion and Judgment , and considering that you together 
constitute the majority of the House of Representatives, I am 
constrained to submit my resignation from the office of the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives.  And I hereby submit 
this letter as my official resignation. 
 
I pray to the Almighty God that within a reasonable period, 
the wisdom will be bestowed upon you to realize that it is 
only through adherence to the Rule of Law and honoring the 
judgment of the courts of our land that we can truly restore 
peace to our beloved Patrimony, unite our people bring 
development and prosperity to everyone, irrespective of 
ethnicity, social background or connection, religion or creed. 
 
I urge you to have the General Services Agency and other 
relevant Government agency(ies) take an inventory of all 
properties of the Liberian Government assigned to me as 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and to take delivery 
of same at its earliest convenience. 
 
May God Almighty continue to bless our country and guide us. 
 
Kind regards, 
Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr. 
 
¶8. (C) Comment.  Snowe's resignation breaks the stalemate 
that has existed since January 15 in the House of 
Representatives.  However, tensions are high among members of 
the House and this saga is not over.  The next chapter will 
be played out in the election of Snowe's successor. End 
Comment. 
Mazel