Mical de Crion Ousted from Imperial Senate

Senate Rotunda, Coruscant — The Imperial Senate has ousted Mical de Crion as the Representative of the Tapani Freeworlds following his refusal to withdraw controversial remarks he made accusing Emperor Palpatine and Sate Pestage of interfering in Tapani politics, and suggesting that the Empire "will kill anyone who disagrees with it." The remarks resulted in words of condemnation from Pestage, the Grand Vizier, and also from the 64% of Senators who voted to censure Mr. Crion and remove him from office.

Senator Star (Volus), who proposed the motion of censure, referred to Mr. Crion as a "traitor to the Empire." Senator Cambrist (Brentaal) seemed to agree. "This is not some grimy street corner where vagrants can wave their arms and shout and spew spittle at one another," Cambrist said, "This is the Imperial Senate. There are rules, and Representative Crion was expected to behave in a manner worthy of the people who elected him to represent them here. Instead," the Senator concluded, "he pouted like a child and told wild and provocative lies about the government he is elected to participate in."

Senator Cambrist also described Mr. Crion's remarks as "frenzied, paranoid, and vulgar," Senator Domon (Sluis Van) described them as "revolting" and "disgusting," and Senator Lohden (Kaal) characterized Mr. Crion's speech as "a litany of [self-serving] filth." But it was, perhaps, Senator Oswaldt (Eriadu) who criticized Mr. Crion most memorably. "You can stand in the tent and piss out," the Senator said, "You can stand outside the tent and piss in. But don't stand in the tent and piss in it too."

Mr. Crion has long been a focus of Imperial displeasure for controversial remarks he has made in the past. His latest speech, which appeared to be unscripted, went on at length about the perceived pressure upon him "... to step down as Representative of the Freeworlds." He alleged that "some have said" he must resign and suggested that the Empire would, in that event, choose his successor. "I can't do that," he said, "because it's not my place, nor Sate [Pestage's] or Palpatine's to decide who that should be."

Mr. Crion went on to say that "... it has been suggested to me that the Empire will kill anyone who disagrees with it," before Sate Pestage, the Grand Vizier of the Empire and chair of the Imperial Senate, disabled the Representative's microphone and suspended him indefinitely. The motion of censure from Ms. Star was proposed moments later, at the recommendation of Mr. Pestage.

Pestage told reporters that Mr. Crion's censure and his eventual removal from the Senate were "unfortunate, but necessary." He stated that he had never pressured Crion to resign.

Senator Bertar (Tapani Sector), of whose delegation Mr. Crion was a member, issued a statement apologizing for the Representative's remarks and insisting that they do not represent her beliefs or those of the Tapani delegation. Senator Bertar was among those who voted in favor of Mr. Crion's censure. Jules Petit, Mr. Crion's chief of staff, told The Coruscant Journal that he had asked Mr. Crion to review his speech in advance, but hadn't been allowed to do so. "I take full responsibility for not consulting with Representative Crion on the content of his speech," Mr. Petit read from a prepared statement.

Petit resigned from the Tapani delegation and returned to the planet Tallaan, where his home had been vandalized in anti-Crion demonstrations earlier in the week. Petit has since been taken into protective custody.

Dr. Hiram Winton of the Coruscant College of Mental Health, having studied holofootage of Mr. Crion's speech, told The Coruscant Journal that he believed the Representative was under "considerable stress" when he delivered it. "This is a man who believes he is on the defensive," Dr. Winton said, "He is lashing out at an imagined enemy that he does not name. It is my suspicion that he is suffering from persecutory delusions. This can be common of individuals with a narcissistic personality disorder, which [Mr. Crion] seems to typify."

Crion was not without supporters, however. "I believe all this has overwhelmed the Representative to the point where he couldn't handle his duties anymore," said Senator Fowlkes (Telos IV), "His duties [are] stressful... It does get to some people, which is why I am sympathetic to him." Senator Thanatos (Chandrila) also believed that Mr. Crion was "under duress." However, Senator Cerra (Garos IV) took a firmer line. "Representative Crion was exercising his freedom of speech within this chamber," she said, "We cannot punish one for speaking his mind whether we like what is said or not."

Crion, now the former Representative of the Tapani Freeworlds, remains on Coruscant, having attempted to leave the planet but denied clearance on the grounds that his diplomatic passport had been revoked. The Coruscant Journal will follow the story as it develops.