Grove moves to start impeachment proceedings against indicted York County Judge Stambaugh

State Rep. Seth Grove has introduced a measure to begin impeachment proceedings against federally indicted York County Common Pleas Judge Steven Stambaugh, according to a press release.

Stambaugh, who was elected to the bench in November 2021 despite being found to be the least qualified candidate by the York County Bar Association poll of attorneys, was indicted last October on charges of directing employees at his law firm to fraudulently collect unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic and later tried to cover up the fraud by intimidating a witness into lying to federal investigators.

A day after the indictment was handed down Stambaugh, 61, was suspended from the bench without pay.

Now, Grove, a Republican from Dover Township, has introduced a resolution to give the House Judiciary Committee authority to investigate Stambaugh's conduct to determine whether grounds for impeachment exist, according to a news release from Grove's office.

“No one is above the law, especially those who are supposed to judge and sentence those who have violated the law,” Grove is quoted as saying in the news release. “A rogue judge who violates the law gives a blackeye to all those who hold dear our justice system to be fair and impartial.”

Stambaugh faces 31 charges - 26 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of tampering with a witness and one count of obstruction of justice. 

The indictment accuses the 61-year-old judge of instructing employees at his former personal injury law firm, Stambaugh Law, to file and collect unemployment compensation during the pandemic while the employees were required to continue working.  

Further, the indictment accused Stambaugh of intimidating and persuading "a witness to give false testimony before a federal grand jury and to lie to law enforcement officers, while attempting to obstruct justice while serving as a Court of Common Pleas judge," the news release states.

Grove is quoted as saying, “The COVID-19 pandemic produced the largest financial fraud on taxpayers in the history of the world. All who committed such egregious offences should be held accountable."

If the House Judiciary Committee find grounds for impeachment, according to the news release, articles of impeachment would be introduced. If the committee approves them, the measure would go up for a vote by the House of Representatives. If approved by the a majority vote in the House, there would be a trial in the Senate. Impeachment requires a vote of two-thirds of the Senators present to pass.

(This story was updated to change or add photos.)