Blagojevich Impeached by Illinois House: Senate Trial Next Step

by Tina Kells | January 9, 2009 at 09:50 am
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Rod Blagojevich moved one step closer to formal impeachment when the Illinois House voted 114-1 Friday morning to impeach the disgraced Governor.  This was an expected action after a House Investigation Committee voted unanimously to recommend impeachment late Thursday.  The vote by the House means that a Senate impeachment trial is now imminent.

 

The action sets the stage for a Senate trial on whether he should be thrown out of office for corruption and abuse of power.

House members found evidence that the two-term Democrat had abused his power, including improperly spending tax money, adopting programs without legislative approval and violating state hiring laws. He's denied wrongdoing.

The House began impeachment proceedings after federal authorities arrested Blagojevich Dec. 9. He's accused, among other things, of attempting to sell an appointment to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat for political favors.

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Ill. House Changes Schedule to Vote on Impeachment

Ill. House Changes Schedule to Vote on Impeachment

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Jarrett Martineau
Jarrett Martineau
flagged this story as Breaking

at 10:04 on January 9th, 2009

Tina Kells, thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle.

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