vc318

Panel recommends impeaching Blagojevich - CNN.com

Panel recommends impeaching Blagojevich

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- An Illinois legislative committee Thursday unanimously recommended impeaching embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich amid corruption allegations.

Blagojevich was arrested last month after federal prosecutors alleged, among other things, that he tried to sell the Senate seat President-elect Barack Obama vacated.

The issue will now be taken up by the full Illinois state House of Representatives.

The 21-member committee looked into Blagojevich's actions on a number of issues beyond the federal allegations

Before the vote, the committee said in a draft report that "the totality of the evidence warrants the impeachment of the governor for cause."

The impeachment committee posted the draft report on its Web site.

The committee heard testimony Thursday afternoon from Roland Burris, the man Blagojevich appointed to succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Burris denied any quid pro quo with Blagojevich for his appointment to the U.S. Senate.

Illinois Republicans want to know whether Burris, a Democrat, was "paying to play." GOP lawmakers point to state records showing Burris and his lobbying firm contributed more than $20,000 to the governor's political campaigns.

Burris, former attorney general for Illinois, is not accused of engaging in "pay-to-play" politics with Blagojevich.

Burris also told lawmakers he had no conversations with Blagojevich about his desire to step into the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

In a written affidavit given to the impeachment panel, Burris said he had one limited conversation with the governor about the Senate seat before he was appointed. And that conversation, he said, was initiated by a Blagojevich attorney.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald initiated a criminal complaint against Blagojevich after listening to wiretaps of the governor's phone conversations.

Federal investigators say they recorded the Illinois governor engaging in "pay-to-play" politics on the calls by demanding campaign contributions and other benefits in exchange for passage of legislation. FBI agents arrested Blagojevich on December 9.

Fitzgerald is weighing whether federal charges were warranted against Blagojevich. A federal judge in Chicago told Fitzgerald that he has until April 7 to decide whether to charge the Illinois governor.

Blagojevich denies wrongdoing and has ignored calls to resign.

So, what are your thoughts on this? I hope Blagojevich is impeached and that Burris will be sent packing as well.

sunnykerr

Yeah, I was kinda stunned at the hubris of Blagojevich when he appointed Burris despite the fact that he was specifically asked to wait till the evil cloud of controversy had lifted a wee bit before making any appointments. I get that, legally, it was his job to appoint someone, but it just smacked of total disregard for propriety and common sense.

As for Burris himself, maybe I take the Daily Show way too much to heart, but any man who claims that his political appointment (made by a man to whom he's contributed literally tens of thousands of dollars over the years) was overseen by God... Yeah, I don't need him to stick around either.

vc318

No way! I must've missed that. Well, I'm not surprised because he also said that he thought he was a good pick because he's Black. Umm, what the HELL does that have to do with anything?!

sunnykerr

Well, I'd post a link to the video in question, but it's not available through YouTube. It is online, but I can only get at it through the Comedy Network Canada. I would imagine that it's also available on the American site as well.

You'd be looking for the January 6, 2008, monologue opening the show. (So clip 1 of 4) It's about five to six minutes in.

It starts off with the announcement that the Senate will be two-senators short for a while since Minnesota is still undecided between Al Franken and the incumbent.

And then it gets to the Chicago mess.

Highlights include the fact that Mr. Burris has apparently seen fit to erect a granite mausoleum somewhere with his accomplishments carved into its sides.

And a clip of him (after the 7th minute), at a church somewhere, saying something to the effect that he "had an opportunity when the Lord put his hand on the governor and said 'This is the person that has to go to Washington.'" I'm almost sure I got it right, but they don't say where the clip is from and the sound is just rough enough that I may be wrong on some of the details.

Either way... yeah.

vc318

Oh my gosh. That's crazy. I wonder what this guy must be paying Blagojevich just to have this seat.

So, could this impeachment thing go through?

sunnykerr

Well, they impeached Clinton for a blowjob... I would assume it's possible to impeach someone for actual corruption.

vc318

Yeah, I think what Clinton did is nothing compared to what this crook did.

sunnykerr

Well, it seems Burris has been sworn in... That's something to indicate Blogojevich's crimes might get swept under the rung. Mind it, they did put it to a vote, didn't they? (The impeachment, not Burris, I mean) And didn't it come back one against impeachment and however many that means is left for impeachment?

johnnya2k8

Well, Illinois got their wish today (1/29), as the entire State Senate unanimously voted 59-0 to boot Blagojevich out of office immediately. Shortly thereafter, Pat Quinn was sworn in as Illinois' new governor.

sunnykerr

Seemed a pretty much foregone conclusion, but good job. Hopefully, Pat Quinn will be one of the non-corrupt Illinois governors...

vc318

Yeah, let's only hope. Any word on this new guy?

sunnykerr

Well, wikipedia (which is, of course, by no means infallible) reports that he's known as a reformer and as a creative force behind one watchdog group to protect customer interests.

Pat Quinn (politician) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia