Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Has Been Impeached
The Illinois House of Representatives has formally impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich, with the initial impeachment process having begun on January 10, 2009.
This development came after the governor allegedly tried to sell the Senate seat of United States President Barack Obama in replacement of solicitation for individual profit. Gov. Blagojevich is now set to be tried for federal corruption charges following his arrest last December 9, 2008.
Mr. Milorad “Rod” R. Blagojevich, a Democrat governor for the state of Illinois serving his second term, was a former boxer and Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. The case involved illegal practices of mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery to replace Barack Obama in his Senate seat. Noted evidence was taken after a telephone conversation was tapped involving the case – implicating the governor of auctioning off the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti. In the motion, it is being asked that Gov. Blagojevich be released of gubernatorial power due to his failure of upholding his oath of office.
The House legislators voted 114 to 1 for his impeachment, laying the foundation for his federal trial – slated to take place in Illinois, the home state of United States President Barack Obama.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty of the criminal charges, and is confident that the allegations will be proven wrong once all the evidence in the trial is made public.
This political brouhaha in the president’s home state will be the first prosecution against a governor after a clean slate of 190 years. Barbara Flynn Currie, a Democratic member and chairwoman of the Illinois House of Representatives since 1997, released a statement definitely declaring her fellow legislator’s denunciation of the negligence and corruption carried out by the accused governor. These actions allegedly taken by the governor is said to be an apparent violation of the constitution, of which they rightfully represent as governors.
The state Senate trial is slated to begin January 26, 2009 with a federal prosecutor appointed by the House of Representatives. Gov. Blagojevich’s guilt hangs in the balance due to the decisions of the senate – once 40 members of the senate have deemed him culpable of the accusations then he will be judged as guilty of his accusations.
The Illinois Supreme Court overruled the decision of the secretary of state to appoint Attorney General Roland Burris in succeeding Barack Obama’s vacant slot. This was after Gov. Blagojevich’s defied the House’s appeal for his impeachment; the governor then immediately announced that Burris was to take over the seat formerly held by the current United States President.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid convened with Attorney General Burris on January 7th to discuss the appointment made by the legally-troubled governor. Mr. Reid eventually decided to support Burris’ selection as legislator. State Attorney General Lisa Madigan also declared the appointment process legal and reasonable. Roland Burris then made a statement on January 9th in gratitude of the Supreme Court’s ruling and denied accusations of his involvement in Gov. Blagojevich’s corruption schemes.
Another camp within the House voiced out their disapproval of Mr. Burris’ promotion. Senator Dick Durbin reiterated the constitutional requirement of signatures from the governor and secretary of state when filling Senate vacancies.
Gov. Blagojevich came out on national television last January 9th claiming that this whole political scandal was a ploy spearheaded by fellow legislators whom he had conflicts with in terms of property and tax relief. The governor attempted to show the many examples of citizens he has helped through his implementations of healthcare institutions and gubernatorial leadership.
Gov. Blagojevich’s approval rating has now dipped to less than 7%. In October of 2008, he recieved the lowest ratings ever recorded for an elected politician in nearly three decades of Chicago Tribune polls.
Rod Blagojevich’s Interview and News Conference Quotes
About his arrest:
“Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States. It was a complete surprise, completely unexpected. And just like the United States prevailed in that, we’ll prevail in this.”
About Senate impeachment trial rules:
“Under these rules, I’m not even getting a fair trial; they’re just hanging me. And when they hang me under these rules that prevent due process, they’re hanging the 12 million people of Illinois who twice have elected a governor.”
About how he feels:
“I’m not the first person this has happened to. All you got to do is read the Bible and parts of the Bible are filled with stories like this, and about how human beings treat each other and how circumstances can change and what people do.”
About the profanity he used that was recorded on federal wiretaps:
“I apologize for some of the profanity, but had I known they were listening I wouldn’t have used those words.”
About his thoughts on why lawmakers want to impeach him:
“It’s all about getting rid of me to raise taxes on people. That’s what the play is with the leadership in Springfield. … I’m saying if I’m removed from office, there’s a whopping huge tax increase coming on the people of Illinois before summer.”
About his thoughts on the state Legislature forcing the next governor to submit to their will:
“He’s going to cower. He’s going to kiss their you-know-what, OK? He’s going to do everything they want, including their tax increase, because he’s going to be afraid that what they just did to me, they’ll do to him.”
About ever wondering if he was under surveillance:
“It crosses your mind. Even before the scrutiny began about four years ago, anybody who comes out of Chicago politics should assume things like that. So it wasn’t like it was new to me.”
About his dedication to his people:
“I’ll still be, always, always doing the best I can trying to advocate and fight for the people whether I’m governor or ex-governor.”
About how he compares himself to the protagonist of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”:
“That’s what my story is. It’s a Frank Capra movie.”
About what he did in Springfield:
“I fought all the interests — members of my own party, lobbyists and special interests who support Democrats — from raising taxes on people and lost a lot of support. … That’s what this is all about; the heart and soul of this has been a struggle of me against the system.”
UPDATE (2009/1/26 – 9:58PM EST): Gov. Blagojevich has now admitted that he was considering offering the U.S. Senate seat to talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Instead of appearing at his impeachment trial in the state Senate, he appeared on “Good Morning America” on ABC and said that a friend of his suggested Oprah for the vacant seat.
“She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way become president,” said Blagojevich. “She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators. She probably wouldn’t take it, and then … if you offered it to her, how would you do it in a way it didn’t look like it was some gimmick and embarrass her?”
Oprah Winfrey, reached for comment said that although she didn’t catch his statements live, but said on BFF Gayle King’s Sirius XM satellite radio show, “If I had been watching as I normally watch, from the treadmill, I would have probably fallen off the treadmill.”
“I’m pretty amused by the whole thing,” said Oprah, but made it clear that she was “absolutely not” interested in the Senate seat.
“I guess you’re under consideration but no one tells you you’re under consideration…I would have to say: Where would I fit it in with my day job, my night job, my radio job, my magazine job? I think I could be senator, too,” said Oprah. “I’m just not interested.”
UPDATE (2009/1/30 – 5:18PM EST): The vote is in; 59-0. Illinois Senators have officially announced the removal of Rod Blagojevich from office, as the ousted former governor came out of the silent chamber after giving a speech pleading for mercy. After only a few hours of his formal impeaching, his lieutenant governor Patrick Quinn was sworn in as the state’s 41st governor.
“The ordeal is over,” said Quinn. “In this moment, our hearts are hurt. And it’s very important to know that we have a duty, a mission to restore the faith of the people of Illinois in the integrity of their government.”
Did you like this article?
Whoa. I have not heard about this before. Thanks for sharing !