By Bill W. Cooper
As a new comer to the Legislature, Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill was on yesterday, November 5, 2024, thrown out of the Senate’s regular session for violating the chamber’s dress code.
The Senate’s presiding officer, Montserrado County Senator, Darius Dillon described McGill’s dress code as ‘inconsistent’ with the Senate’s protocol, emphasizing that all members must adhere to the established dress standards.
Dillion, who is the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson, should have been the presiding officer during yesterday’s session due to the absence of the Senate President, Jeremiah Koung, the President Pro-temp, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and the Chairperson on Executive, James Biney.
It all started after McGill, who is also the Chairperson of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) legislative caucus, entered the Senate’s chamber dressed in blue jeans, blue collar shirt and a brown jacket.
This caught the attention of Nimba County Senator, Nyan Twayen who promptly alerted the plenary, drawing the focus of Senator Dillon as the presiding who then engaged McGill in a brief conversation before informing him that he would need to leave the chamber to adhere to the Senate’s dress code procedure.
“Senator McGill, in keeping with our rules, you did not dress properly. You should be out for this kind of dress code to do it properly,” Dillon reminded Sen. McGill in open session before he was asked out of the Senate’s chamber.
Even though McGill adhered to the instruction, Sen. Dillion, as the presiding officer, failed to cite or quote the exact rule that McGill allegedly violated due to his dress code, but said he could not recall the exact rule, maintaining that the dress code was established within the Senate’s regulations.
McGill initially protested the decision, arguing for personal expression, but ultimately left the chamber after a brief exchange with the presiding officer.
Meanwhile, prior to the incident, McGill, during the early morning hours challenged the Senate’s failure to meet quorum, noting that only 12 senators were seated and therefore never met the benchmark to constitute quorum for the transaction of official business.
Citing Rule 7, Section 1, of the Senate’s rules and procedures, McGill reminded his colleagues that a quorum requires a simple majority of seated senators for official business, though a smaller number may adjourn sessions or compel the attendance of absent members.
In response, the presiding, Sen. Dillon, acknowledged his point and requested a brief recess, at which time the Sergeant-at-Arms was instructed to locate and summon additional senators for session.
