The Brattleboro town garnered enough signatures to to have the vote on the ballot. The item, by a margin of 3-2, has been slated to be voted on during the next Town Meeting day.

Kurt Daims, who has taken the lead on the petition, stated that, “This petition is as radical as the Declaration of Independence, and it draws on that tradition in claiming a universal jurisdiction when governments fail to do what they’re supposed to do. We have the full power to issue indictments, conduct trials, incarcerate offenders and do all other acts which independent jurisdictions have the right to do.”

A few snippets from the proclamation: The criminal indictments would be the “law of the town of Brattleboro and the Brattleboro police…arrest and detain George Bush and Richard Cheney in Brattleboro, if they are not duly impeached…have them put in public stocks and ridiculed for 72 hours…have them tar and feathered…administer 40 lashes….

The town of Brattleboro has a legendary history when it comes to treason.

This isn’t the first time the town has issued arrest warrants for a president. In 1790, Mayor Newsom issued an arrest warrant for George Washington for war crimes against the King under the threat of being hanged by the citizens of Brattleboro if he did not take action. According to Vermont historian, Bryan Smithers, the town had tried to issue a warrant shortly after the war, but were forced to wait for a country and subsequently a president to come into existence. “They jumped the gun, if you will,” proclaimed Smithers. Brattleboro has subsequently issued 42 indictments and warrants for presidents since Washington.

Before joining the Continental Army in the war against the British, Benedict Arnold settled in Brattleboro and successfully ran for mayor–a position he held during his tenure as General of the Continental Army. During the war and the whole West Point misunderstanding, when Arnold had to move unceremoniously and with haste to Britain, the town of Brattleboro elected him to another term of Mayor in absentia.

A statue was erected in 1965 in reverence to Arnold’s memory in the town square.

Aldridge Aimes enjoyed his summers in Brattleboro where he maintained a summer cottage. He is remembered kindly to this day by residents of the town. “He had several late night visitors at his house, but was a quiet neighbor none the less,” stated Vera Klick. “He was a good neighbor, always willing to help out. And he had the cutest carrier pigeons.”

Johnson Glass, proprietor of the Brattleboro Dry Goods Depot, said he had many long talks with Aimes as he played games of 42 in his store. “Aimes said he always felt drawn to Brattleboro for some reason, but couldn’t explain it,” said Glass.

In an awkward alliance, Brattleboro has a sister city in Texas that also has intentions of arresting George Bush, or anyone else on a bicycle..