CHICAGO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Illinois Senate in
Springfield, the state capital city, opened on Monday its historic impeachment
trial of an absent Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of corruption but
insisted that the impeachment is unfair.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich speaks
to the media during a news conference in Chicago, Illinois January 23,
2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Illinois senators were summoned to their seats to
serve as judge and jury in determining whether Blagojevich, the two-term
Democratic governor, had violated his oath of office for allegedly trying to
profit from his office and abusing his powers.
The impeached governor is hundreds of miles away from
Springfield, doing the New York circuit of TV news and talk shows to win public
sympathy and make the case that he is the victim of a political hanging. Major
U.S. televisions including NBC, ABC and CNN have all touted Blagojevich
appearances.
"This is a solemn and serious business we are about
to engage in," Illinois Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald told the senators in
opening the trial.
The trial will determine whether Blagojevich shall be
removed as governor and barred from ever again holding office in Illinois. A two
thirds majority of the Senate could convict him at trial and throw him out of
office. No Illinois governor has ever been impeached or ousted.
Blagojevich was arrested on Dec. 9, accused of
scheming to benefit from his power to name President Barack Obama's replacement
in the U.S. Senate. The Illinois senate declared impeachment of Blagojevich on
Jan. 9 on additional charges of circumventing hiring laws and defying decisions
by the General Assembly.
CHICAGO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The impeached Illinois
Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of selling U.S. senator seat vacated
by President Barack Obama, Friday opposed the impeachment rules, saying it is a
trampling of constitution.
At press conference at downtown Chicago, Blagojevich
likened his Monday impeachment trial to a "hanging" of the 12 million people of
Illinois. Full story
CHICAGO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Illinois House in a
historic vote has impeached embattled Governor Rod Blagojevich who is accused of
selling a U.S. senator seat vacated by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.
The vote by the House was 114-1 and marks the first time
in the state's 190-year history that a governor has been impeached. Full story
CHICAGO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Impeached Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich vowed on Friday to fight every step of the way.
At a news conference held in downtown Chicago hours after
he was impeached by the Illinois House, Blagojevich said he is confident that at
the end, he will be properly exonerated. Full story
CHICAGO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Illinois Governor Rod
Blagojevich, who faced federal corruption charges, said here on Friday that he
was not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing and intends to stay on the job.
At a press conference held in downtown Chicago on Friday
afternoon, the governor, in his first public appearance since his Dec. 9 arrest,
said: "I will fight until I take my last breath." Full story
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Illinois Supreme Court
refused on Wednesday to hear a case against the state governor, Rod Blagojevich,
who was charged with corruption.
The court spokesman announced the decision not to hear a
challenge to Governor Blagojevich's fitness to hold office without giving
further reasons. Full story
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Illinois state
lawmakers are seeking to impeach governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested on
Tuesday on corruption charges, CNN reported on Friday.
John Fritchey and three other Democratic members of
the Illinois state House of Representatives co-sent a letter to fellow lawmakers
late Thursday to make the case for the impeachment, according to the report. Full story
