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Prosecutor Concerned Blagojevich Impeachment Hearing Could Harm Case

Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:54 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Members of a newly formed impeachment committee of the Illinois House are working with federal prosecutors to address concerns that their proceedings against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich could harm the federal corruption case against him.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has indicated he fears an impeachment hearing will feature testimony from witnesses in the criminal case before it goes to trial, the New York Times reports.

Illinois Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, chairwoman of the impeachment committee, says she is drafting a letter for Fitzgerald outlining the kinds of information the committee is seeking and the witnesses it hopes to question.

“We’re prepared, we’re here,” Currie said, according to the Times report. “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.”

The committee could decide to focus on Blagojevich’s ability to govern to avoid interfering with the criminal case, the story says.

Comments

1.

J.D.
Dec 17, 2008 10:42 AM CST

We’ve only scratched the surface of the Obama-Blago scandal.

2004: Governor Blago appoints Obama AG nominee Eric Holder to investigate corruption. Holder receives $300,000 for his legal services. Corruption probe finds no wrongdoing.

And Holder neglects to mention all this on his AG questionnaire. Change? Hope? I think not.:

http://judiciary.senate.gov/resources/documents/upload/111th-Holder-Questionnaire-Public.pdf

Read all about it:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1334978,CST-NWS-holder17web.article

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2.

JR
Dec 17, 2008 10:47 AM CST

I assume “JD” reflects your initials, as I cannot believe you have a law degree. Your innuendo appals me.  Even if you are right about Holder, which I gravely doubt, your tying this to Obama has no basis.

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3.

Nikos Retsos
Dec 17, 2008 12:01 PM CST

The impeachment proceedings against Illinois governor Blagojevich is nothing more than a farce.  It is just a way for Illinois legislators to ride the publicity wagon as stalwarts of democratic values,  but political contributions are also their top priority.  Unfortunately for them, the governor’s office is the goldmine because it controls all state agencies, the appointments to plum jobs, and the state contracts.  And governor Blagojevich - according to the 76-page FBI criminal complaint-
has been mining that gold for years, and it had become common knowledge.  Why the Illinois legislators didn’t move a finger against the governor all those years?  Because they were doing the same, but on a smaller scale, and according to their seniority and status.

Now Blagojevich’s lawyer, Ed Genson,  wants to take part in the impeachment proceedings,  and publicly ridicule the process because the Illinois legislators have nothing to base the impeachment upon - other than articles in the press.  And U.S. Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald,
will not give them anything precious -other than what is known in the already published 76-page criminal complaint-  to be trashed around in a circus atmosphere in Springfield.  After all, some of those legislators are Blagojevich’s close associates who now want to get a free ride on the anti-corruption
publicity media coverage.  Lets not forget that a law to limit political contributions by contractors doing business with the state was on its way to the wastebasket,  until Baraq Obama called
for its approval.  And even then, it was grudgingly voted on by Blagojevich’s starwarts.

The widespread national coverage on the scale of Illinois corruption, with a sign “FOR SALE”  hanging in the Governor’s Office -according to the U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald- created an angst among Illinois legislators - and especially on those who pampered Blagojevich until his arrest and had benefited from that friendship. Now, with all that national smudge hanging over on Illinois corruption,  they have all moved on the other side of corruption - the impeachment side.  The publicity is greener there,  and it is more a calculated move to look clean in the public eye,  rather than a determination to clean up Illinois politics.  After all, before the term “Pay-to-Play” was coined to describe Blagojevich’s “For Sale”  schemes,  there was the term “Wheeling and Dealing”  that covered all political favors by all Illinois politicians, from aldermen to the governor. 

Surely, every Illinois legislators will stay on the impeachment’s high moral ground until it falls flat,
and when the publicity subsides,  “Business as Usual”  -the third term of political corruption is okay in Illinois - will be back.  After all,  Illinois without political corruption will be like “Hell Without Fire.”  Nikos Retsos, retired professor, Illinois

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4.

J.D.
Dec 17, 2008 12:11 PM CST

JR, that’s right. Obama only nominated Holder to be the AG. No connection there.

Make an argument, for christssake.

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5.

JD10
Dec 29, 2008 12:40 PM CST

Hope!  At least there are still people out there (way out in California) who have no idea who Blagovich is!  http://www.tmz.com/2008/12/29/usc-football-catches-academic-ass-whooping/

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