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Illinois legislative committee recommends Blagojevich impeachment vote

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A committee of the Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday voted unanimously to recommend the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich. The committee was appointed last month to gather evidence and testimony regarding the charges against Blagojevich. US federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald asked the committee to limit its impeachment inquiry and avoid looking into the criminal charges, warning that such an inquiry could hamper the investigation. In its 78-page report, the committee concluded:The Governor faces an array of criminal charges related to his official conduct as Governor. The Governor's appointment of a U.S. Senator, pursuant to a valid state law, has been questioned because of a lack of trust in the Governor. The federal Government no longer trusts the Governor with vital security information to which other governors routinely have access. Our State's and Nation's highest elected officers have asked the Governor to resign. The drop in bond ratings will cost the State millions of dollars because of the Governor's arrest. Whether the people of this State retain confidence in the Governor is a question that each member of this Committee, and perhaps the full House, must answer.The issue will now go to a vote before the entire House. If 60 of the 118 House members vote to impeach, the proceedings will go before the Senate, which will act as a jury with the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court presiding. Forty of the Senate's 59 members must vote to convict Blagojevich to remove him from office. Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn has said that he hopes Blagojevich will resign before impeachment proceedings advance. Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested last month by federal agents on charges of corruption. Both Blagojevich and Harris have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They are accused of conspiring to sell or trade the senate seat left vacant by Obama and obtaining illegal campaign contributions. They are also accused of threatening to withhold assistance to the Chicago Tribune with the sale of Wrigley Field unless two editorial writers who had been critical of Blagojevich were fired. Harris resigned his position after the arrest, while Blagojevich has continued to report to work. Last month, the Illinois Supreme Court rejected a bid by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to have Blagojevich temporarily removed from office.~ 11:37AM: The Illinois House of Representatives has voted 114-1 to impeach Blagojevich.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 09, 2009 (boomark / email).