R-SPAN would  preface this article by noting that we understand that R-SPAN is late to the chase, which we ultimately apologize for. Quality journalism, especially in our sphere, is not always quick, but through diligent research and fact-checking, R-SPAN has uncovered more information to provide you with a more informed knowledge of the Expulsion of Senator Atlantxic. The real reason, though, of our late chase to this is because I could of not brought myself to give a shit until now, at 1AM…

The Timeline of Events

7:35 PM Eastern Time, Palmer, Ridgeway

The moment of what started the expulsion started around 7:35 PM EST, when voting on Bill 3 of the 6th Senate. Lieutenant Governor mandatorymorale, having been sick, declared his absence prior to the session and transferred the powers of the Presiding Officer – the person who enforces the rules of the Senate – over to President pro tempore Matrix_oc. The bill, which was written by Senator Atlantxic, had failed Senate. Immediately after, Atlantxic stated “abstaining to attempt is wild” and “bro” (Affiliate organization Ridgeway News Network incorrectly reported Senator Atlantxic’s statement as saying “hell no”, which is factually incorrect), before walking out of the chambers. Once outside of chambers,  the Senator had stopped communicating, went AFK for around a minute, and then left the game at 7:37 PM EST. At the same time she left, Japan_2s had a motion for contempt 56 seconds later, in which the Presiding Officer Matrix_oc held an advisory vote, which passed unanimously among the members (with Matrix_oc abstaining). She was then held in contempt.

7:40 PM Eastern Time, Ridgeway Senate Groupchat

At 7:40 PM EST, the Sergeant at Arms, Mr. Just_Dapper, received a message from Senator Atlantxic, where she said that it was 12 AM, and that the teachers at her boarding school were conducting room checks. The Sergeant at Arms had then publicly announced this message to the Senators. Senator BR1452232 then said that at 7:45, she had told the senators in the Senate Discord Groupchat, with the Senate entering recess 2 minutes later.

7:58 PM Eastern Time, Palmer, Ridgeway

At 7:58 PM EST, Senator Timbowalk had himself introduced a resolution to expel Atlantxic and the Senate is called to order. During this time, Developer Oversight Dave had pointed out that, in the Standing Rules, 900.3 provides procedures for the expulsion of senators. The process of expulsion requires the Senate Committee on Ethics to investigate and approve prior to voting. This, of course, proved to be a roadblock but had a simple solution—just suspend the rule! Parliamentarian of the Senate notsfeelings advised the Senate they had the ability to suspend the rules, and, immediately following, Senator Japan_2s had motioned to do so, with it having unanimous consent. The vote to expel the senator was 4-1-0, with President pro Tempore Matrix_oc remaining impartial and not voting. Astute readers may know that the vote to expel a senator requires a 2/3 majority from the entire senate, including those not present at the session, and that 4/7 is less then the 2/3 majority required; HOWEVER, Senator-Elect Vincefant has not (and still isn’t) sworn in, which made the number of Senators 6, making 4/6 meet exactly the 2/3 majority required. At 8:17 PM EST, the Senate had finally adjourned.

Post-Incident; Interviews

The expulsion of Atlantxic had caused an uproar in the community, with prominent members calling for an explanation of how a recently democratically elected senator could be expelled so quickly and without proper due process. Atlantxic told R-SPAN that “the existence of rule 900.3 is to keep this power in check” which “the suspension of [it] for the duration of yesterday’s session was [disgraceful]. Other less-serious ethical concerns arose when a news organization owned by Senator Timbowalk, who supported the expulsion, had released an article of it. Although the article had covered both sides of the story fairly well, it had stated that she said “oh hell nah” right after her bill failed. This rumor, which was also shared by Senator Natedog in an interview with R-SPAN, is completely untrue and had never been said during the session.

Atlantxic had also said that the expulsion lacks the proper ground to stand if it were not for the suspension of the rules:

Was there severe inactivity or unwillingness? Was there a conviction? Did I betray my oath by touching grass for 30 minutes because I had to? Did I commit a high crime? The answer is no, no, no and no. These senators knew that they would never see me out with the presence of the Committee on Ethics, it would have never stuck. Is the faithful execution of the office of a state senator and the severe unwillingness to perform duties proven by one act of simply leaving the chamber due to a prompted emergency?

Former Senator Atlantxic

There was also a concernable lack of consistency between the interviews of Senators at the event. The most pressing one is the issue of when did they learn of the excuse? Atlantxic had contacted the Sergeant at Arms after he attendance was compelled, telling him that she was undergoing an emergency. The Sergeant had announced these communications to the entire Senate, but, surprisingly, most Senators were not able to recollect it or had misremembered it. Senator Japan_2s misremembered it as the Sergeant at Arms announcing Atlantxic will not be getting back on since it was late (Natedog9982 would also similarly recount this), when in reality the SAA had said “teachers checking room / cant.” Most other senators say they’ve ‘never’ seen him say this; with Natedog9982 said he learned of her excuse “between the contempt and expelling or after the session”; Timbowalk was away from his keyboard cooking in the kitchen; and Japan_2s and Br1452232 saying they’ve learned of it in the Senate Groupchat 5-10 minutes later after she left (or 2-7 minutes after the SAA had announced her reason.)

I understand that this may seem completely irreverent, but a lot of the senators’ reasons for why they expelled her is because they did not believe her. Japan_2s and Natedog9982 both contend that ONLY after the vote for contempt, she switched her story to that her room being searched. This, of course, did not happen at all during the course of the session. This expulsion could have this breakdown of communication as a cause, but Atlantxic also suspects that there is a hidden agenda at play. Natedog9982 had told R-SPAN that this expulsion had also occurred because of the “issues she caused throughout her week as senator,” and refused to elaborate further “out of respect for Atlantxic.” 

Days after the heat of the moment, many senators remain adamantly firm that expulsion was ultimately the right choice. All of them still doubt the probability of the story, with one saying that “it’s hard for [him] to believe that her room was benign searched [at her British Boarding School]. At the time of the session, it was quite literally the middle of the night.” Senator Br1452232 still stands behind his vote, but has stated that the suspension of the rule was extreme. On the complete opposite end, though, is Senator Timbowalk doing a complete 180, stating that he is “embarrassed” and that it was “the biggest mistake [he] ever made.” This was followed up by Senators japan_2s saying “keep your feelings to yourself.” 

Lieutenant Governor Mandatorymorale, who was sick and not present at the time, gave a brief comment to other news organizations regarding the events.

I was not present to see the events that transpired, there is a set process for a reason – unless extremely extenuating circumstances had occurred, the due process of having a expulsion resolution sent to the Ethics Committee should stand. Even in real life, George Santos, who had committed far worse crimes, was entitled to a Congressional Ethics hearing.

Lieutenant Governor Mandatorymorale

Ultimately, what’s done is done and there is nothing to do to reverse it. A special-election will be hosted to fill-in Atlantxic’s spot for the remainder of her term. She had told R-SPAN, “I was here to represent the people, and I can no longer do so. I do not have future plans politically. I plan to focus on my law enforcement career within the Sheriff’s Office and continue to serve our community at its core. Although I can no longer bring a positive impact by paper pushing, I will do so by working the streets.” The public opinion regarding the incident is hostile, with 56.8% disapproving/28.4% approving the Senate’s actions in a recent Alder Group survey report. At the end of the day though, one thing stands clear: it is all petty bullshit!