Ill. Gov. Takes Case to TV, is a No-Show at His Own Impeachment Trial
As he had promised, Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich wasn’t at hand as his own historic impeachment trial began today in the state senate in Springfield.
“As state senators began gathering in this downstate capital city of 116,000 to hear accusations of wrongdoing, overstepping and deal-making in Illinois’ first impeachment trial of a governor, Mr. Blagojevich was in New York to begin a day of national television interviews, aimed at reaching millions, in his own defense,” reports the New York Times.
As discussed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post, the governor, who is also facing a pending federal criminal case, contends that the trial in the senate is unfair because of his inability to call witnesses as he wishes.
Although a not guilty plea was entered today on the governor’s behalf by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald, when neither Blagojevich nor his counsel appeared at the impeachment trial, it is expected to proceed swiftly in the governor’s absence.
Meanwhile, “Blagojevich made the rounds Monday on broadcast networks, telling interviewers that he expects to lose his job this week, halfway through his second term, because ‘the fix is in,’ ” reports the Washington Post.
Additional coverage:
Clout Street (Chicago Tribune): “House prosecutor: Governor ‘put his office up for sale’”
Chicago Tribune: “Blagojevich dodges Walters on ‘The View’”
