Impeachment Inquiry Hits Bumps in Illinois

by Dave Keating | December 17, 2008 at 03:22 am

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The efforts to impeach Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich have hit a major snag. Authorities have said that such a process would interfere with the investigation against the governor. So far Blagojevich has refused to step down.

Members of the newly appointed House impeachment committee met for less than two hours before adjourning until Wednesday so the lawyer, Ed Genson, could arrive from Chicago and an agreement with prosecutors could be considered about how to proceed.

“We’re prepared, we’re here,” said Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, a Chicago Democrat who is the chairwoman of the committee. “We’ll be ready to have at it all the way through, but whether as a matter of practical logistics — whether we can — depends very much on when we hear from the United States attorney.”

Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the United States attorney who a week ago charged Mr. Blagojevich with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and bribery, has expressed reservations about the prospect that lawmakers may hear testimony from witnesses in the criminal case before a jury does, Ms. Currie said.