A petition demanding impeachment of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer over her COVID response is gaining traction, just as Michigan enters a decisive week in a separate political battle over election results.

The renewed activity with the Change.org petition, created months ago, follows Republican lawmakers introducing articles of impeachment on Thursday over Whitmer’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and ahead of Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers meeting Monday to decide whether to certify the presidential election—a normally little-noticed process now under intense scrutiny amid claims of election fraud by President Donald Trump and state Republicans.

The petition, entitled “Impeach Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer NOW,” calls Whitmer “incompetent” and “deadly” while accusing her of “inadequate” leadership during the pandemic. Concerns include “unnecessary government overreach” and fighting with President Donald Trump for “political clout.” As of Sunday, the petition has reached over 7,100 signatures.

The petition calls for impeaching Whitmer over refusing to allow medical professionals to prescribe hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine to specifically treat the coronavirus. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this drug treats the virus. A March memo from Whitmer noted that an investigation would take place if medical professionals are caught prescribing the drug for treating the coronavirus, noting that an “intent to stockpile the drug may create a shortage for patients” who need it.

New cases of COVID-19 have soared in Michigan and most parts of the U.S. over the past month. On Saturday, the state passed the milestone of 300,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. It also has one of the highest numbers of COVID-related hospitalizations in the country, with over 3,800 people currently hospitalized.

To combat the rapid spread of the virus, Whitmer announced on November 15 a “three-week pause” order would be imposed within the state through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, creating stricter statewide restrictions. These restrictions include closing workplaces where work can be done from home; temporarily halting in-person instruction at high schools and colleges; temporarily suspending indoor dine-in service at restaurants and bars; and halting high school athletics. It also closes some non-essential businesses such as movie theaters, bowling allies and arcades.

“In the spring, we listened to public health experts and saved thousands of lives together,” Whitmer tweeted. “I am personally asking each and every one of you to channel that same energy and do everything in your power to protect our communities from this virus and save lives again.”

In a Thursday press conference, Whitmer said she’s “considering all actions” to keep Michiganders safe during the worsening pandemic.

GOP Michigan State Rep. Beau LaFave tweeted on Thursday that he filed a resolution against Gov. Whitmer—a few days after Rep. Matt Maddock tweeted that he and a “growing list” of Republican state lawmakers have decided that the governor “crossed the line” in terms of COVID-19 restrictions.

“The four articles of impeachment against Gov. Whitmer include failing to respect the separation of powers by exercising power granted to the legislative branch, violating the constitutional rights of the people of Michigan, issuing executive orders against the interests of the people and state, and using state resources to reward political allies,” LaFave wrote.

The resolution claims “corrupt conduct” by Whitmer and says she committed “crimes and misdemeanors” exceeding her authority.

The state House of Representatives has the power to impeach elected officials for crimes or corrupt conduct while in office by a majority vote under Michigan’s constitution. It would take a two-thirds vote in the Senate—where Democrats control 42 percent of the seats in Michigan—to remove the person from office and convict them.

“State law grants emergency powers to the Governor for the purpose of responding to immediate crises, but the Governor may only act in a manner that is consistent with the constitutionally mandated separation of powers,” LaFave wrote in one of the four articles. “The state constitution does not permit the Governor to bypass the legislative process nor does it empower her to unilaterally make or amend laws for the protection of public health.”

Meanwhile, amid the pandemic, the state is currently involved in post-election drama concerning Trump. Two Michigan Republican lawmakers met with Trump at the White House on Friday amid a push on the part of the president to challenge the election results. Following the meeting, both Michigan Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Michigan Republican Majority Leader Mike Shirkey indicated in a statement that “we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan’s electors, just as we have said throughout this election.” The Associated Press called Michigan in favor for Democrat Joe Biden.

On Saturday, the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, asked the Michigan’s State Board of Canvassers in a letter to postpone certification so an audit of Wayne County’s election results could be conducted, the Detroit Free Press reported. Trump’s claims of election irregularities in Detroit, which is located in Wayne County, have not been proven.

In response to the proposal for impeachment, Whitmer’s spokesperson, Tiffany Brown, told The Detroit News on Wednesday that the governor was focused on combatting the coronavirus at the moment.

“Gov. Whitmer doesn’t have any time for partisan politics or people who don’t wear masks, don’t believe in science and don’t have a plan to fight this virus,” Brown said.

Newsweek reached out to Whitmer’s office, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

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President Donald Trump‘s lawyer, Sidney Powell said an upcoming Georgia election lawsuit “will be biblical,” as Trump’s campaign continued its efforts to prove allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

“Georgia’s probably going to be the first state I’m gonna blow up,” Powell said in an interview with the conservative media outlet Newsmax TV on Saturday night.

“We’ve got tons of evidence. It’s so much, it’s hard to pull it all together,” Powell continued. “Hopefully, this week we will get it ready to file, and it will be biblical.”

Jordan Sekulow, another member of Trump’s legal team who appeared on Newsmax TV earlier on Saturday, also hinted at a “shocking” lawsuit on its way to Georgia.

“I can’t tell you right now what is coming in Georgia, but what is coming in Georgia will be shocking,” Sekulow said.

Powell later claimed that Republican Georgia Governer Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger were being paid to be part of a conspiracy with Dominion Voting Systems.

“And Mr. Kemp and the secretary of state need to go with it because they’re in on the Dominion scam with their last-minute purchase or reward of a contract to Dominion of $100 million,” said Powell, alleging that Georgia law enforcement should investigate the claim.

The Dominion Voting Systems conspiracy arose following a tweet from Trump claiming that “Dominion deleted 2.7 million Trump votes nationwide,” and that the voting system switched Trump votes to favor President-elect Joe Biden.

However, these claims have since been proven false.

According to The New York Times, three Georgia counties also had issues with vote counts, but an error in the Dominion software did not change the actual vote count, and instead delayed reporting of vote tallies.

While speaking to the Times, Edward Perez, an election-technology expert at the OSET Institute, said that “many of the claims being asserted about Dominion and questionable voting technology is misinformation at best and, in many cases, they’re outright disinformation.”

“I’m not aware of any evidence of specific things or defects in Dominion software that would lead one to believe that votes had been recorded or counted incorrectly,” Perez told the Times.

Dominion Voting Systems also has published its own fact check on claims about its systems, writing that there is “no credible reports or evidence of any software issues exist.”

Trump has also motioned to an upcoming suit in the Peach State in a tweet on Saturday. “Big voter fraud information coming out concerning Georgia. Stay tuned,” wrote the president.

Amy Gardner, the national political reporter at The Washington Post, tweeted on Sunday that Trump’s statement is likely a reference to Powell’s claims. “At what point does all this become actionable as libel or frivolous lawsuits?” asked Gardner.

Kemp’s office, Raffensperger, Powell and Trump’s re-election campaign didn’t respond to Newsweek‘s request for comment in time for publication.

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