Blagojevich Set to Make Closing Argument In Illinois Senate

January 29th, 2009|Sasha James
State

“Ive been informed the governor would like to come here,” Illinois Senator John Cullerton told the impeachment tribunal yesterday in Springfield, Illinois. Cullerton, the senate president, said the two-term Democrat wishes to deliver a closing argument, for which he needs the senates permission.

Blagojevich, 52, was impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives Jan. 9, a month after his arrest on federal corruption charges. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in Chicago accused the governor of trying to auction President Barack Obamas vacated U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash.

The governor, a Democrat, had been boycotting the proceeding, claiming rules adopted by a bipartisan nine-member panel chaired by Cullerton bar him from calling witnesses or challenging the charges against him. The governor has denied any wrongdoing.

“Theyre just hanging me,” he told reporters in a Jan. 23 press conference in Chicago. Neither he, nor his attorneys, have appeared at the trial or contested the proceedings.

Lucio Guerrero, a spokesman for the governor, confirmed his planned appearance before the Senate.

“I can confirm, but thats all I can say,” Guerrero said yesterday in an e-mailed statement.

Final Witness

The evidentiary portion of the trial ended yesterday after House prosecutor David Ellis called his sixth and final witness, Illinois Auditor General William Holland.

Afterward, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, a Republican from Lemont, told reporters that no conditions would be put on the governors appearance before the tribunal today.

“The deal is that he will be making a statement. He has 90 minutes according to the rules to close and we will sit respectfully through that and listen,” she said. Asked if she thought he would resign, the senator said, “It is possible that he realizes things are closing in on him.”

Democrats outnumber Republicans in the 59-member chamber, 37 to 22.

Health Programs

The House impeachment allegations also included claims he exceeded his power by expanding state health programs without complying with laws controlling creation of new regulations, by acquiring unneeded flu vaccinations from a foreign manufacturer without a contract or U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, and by shifting budget money among state programs to avoid accountability under an efficiency program.

While the governor has an obligation to protect the states citizens, Holland said, he must do so “within the confines of state and federal law.”

Andrew Morriss, a University of Illinois law professor called as a witness, was asked about the governors alleged disregard of administrative procedure and the separation of powers between the states executive and legislative branches.

“It is inappropriate” Morriss said, for the governor “to choose which laws he will abide by.”

Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, yesterday said the governor had lied in a press conference last week and in television appearances this week about what the trial rules allowed him to do.

“He should come here and answer questions and provide the context,” Cullerton told reporters.

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