High Profile Democrat Impeached!
The Illinois House impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich (114-1), directing the Senate to put the state’s 40th chief executive on trial. It was the first time in the state’s 190-year history that a governor has been impeached. Blagojevich was also the first democrat in decades to win governor in Illinois.
A spokesman for the governor says he won’t resign!
Yesterday, the House panel urged lawmakers to impeach Governor Hot Rod:
A key panel unanimously recommended impeachment for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Senate appointee Roland Burris appeared in front of the panel and told the impeachment committee that he didn’t cut a deal with Blagojevich. (AP YouTube)
The AP reported:
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Friday to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, an unprecedented action that sets up a Senate trial on whether he should be thrown out for allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat.
Impeachment required just 60 votes. The final result was 114-1.
Legislators accused the second-term Democratic governor of letting down the people of Illinois by letting ego and ambition drive his decisions.
“It’s our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that’s become Illinois government,” said Rep. Jack D. Franks, a Democrat.
Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on federal charges that include allegations he schemed to profit from his power to name Obama’s replacement in the Senate. The criminal complaint included an FBI agent’s sworn affidavit describing wiretaps that caught Blagojevich allegedly talking about what he could get for the seat, how to pressure people into making campaign contributions and more.
It was just 10 years ago that another Democrat, Bill Clinton, was impeached by the US House of Representatives for committing perjury.
