Bill Langer and the Republican Party in North Dakota

Bill Langer, North Dakota's sitting governor, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. While serving his governor, Langer was put on trial in federal court. And then he was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. As a result, the state Supreme Court ruled that Bill Langer had to be removed as governor. But it got even more dramatic when Langer refused to accept his conviction as legitimate. He rejected the court's order and declared martial law in the state.