Panel begins Blagojevich impeachment probe
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (UPI) — An Illinois House panel says it will have several weeks of hearings as it considers whether to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, accused of corruption.
The committee authorized to investigate accusations of corruption and abuse of power against Blagojevich was scheduled to begin taking testimony Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reported. The panel has the power to issue subpoenas and compel testimony, and is expected to seek information from the U.S. attorney’s office — which arrested Blagojevich last week — as well as information from other aspects of the federal investigation, such as testimony from convicted influence-peddler Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
Among other things, Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat.
“This is not a kangaroo court,” said committee chairwoman Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago Democrat. “It’s absolutely critical that we do this deliberately, that we don’t rush to judgment, that we don’t say, because the public is clamoring for his head, we should take the head first and do the trial later.”
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero dismissed the House action.
“Talk of impeachment is nothing new to the governor and once the House makes its recommendation, then he will have more to say,” Guerrero said.
The House did not strip Blagojevich of his power to appoint Obama’s successor, a move that angered Republicans, the Tribune reported. A bill that would have set up a special election appeared to be going nowhere.
House Speaker Michael Madigan said the House’s inaction “is reflective of probably a majority of people in the House, probably a majority of people in the state.”
Madigan is the father of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who asked the state Supreme Court to remove Blagojevich temporarily from office.
