DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Illinois Governor Arrested For Attempting To "Sell" Obama Senate Seat

**ChebuRAtoR** · 12-29-2008, 05:03 AM

DECEMBER 29, 2008

Illinois's No. 2 Predicts Blagojevich Impeachment

By SUSAN CAREY

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Sunday that he expects Gov. Rod Blagojevich to be impeached by the Illinois House and convicted by the state Senate, clearing the way for a special election in June to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Mr. Quinn, speaking on CBS News's "Face the Nation," said he hopes Mr. Blagojevich will be out of office by Feb. 12, when the state will celebrate the bicentennial birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The lieutenant governor added that he hopes Mr. Blagojevich will voluntarily resign. Either way, according to state law, Mr. Quinn would take over as acting governor.

Getty Images

Illinois Lt. Gov. Quinn said he hopes
Gov. Blagojevich will voluntarily resign.

Mr. Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges alleging, among other things, that he conspired to sell Mr. Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. The governor has denied wrongdoing, said he will fight the charges and has given no indication he plans to leave office.

...

Mr. Quinn said Sunday that if he becomes acting governor, he would press the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow a temporary appointee to fill Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat ahead of a special state election in June on a successor, ensuring that Illinois "has two senators at all times."

According to the Associated Press, Illinois Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, head of the impeachment committee, said last week that the governor's attorney, Edward Genson, asked her committee to subpoena two incoming Obama advisers, Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel, along with more than a dozen other individuals.

But U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the committee not to subpoena Ms. Jarrett, who has been tapped to be a senior adviser to the president-elect, or Mr. Emanuel, the incoming chief of staff, to avoid interfering in the criminal investigation of Mr. Blagojevich that Mr. Fitzgerald is overseeing, the AP reported.

...

Mr. Quinn, the lieutenant governor, said the fact that the federal prosecutor has declined to release investigative information to the impeachment committee won't stand in the way of a vote to end the governor's tenure. "There is so much other evidence the impeachment committee has considered," he said.

Copyright ©2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

12-29-2008, 05:03 AM	#7
ChebuRAtoR Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 536 Senior Member	DECEMBER 29, 2008 Illinois's No. 2 Predicts Blagojevich Impeachment By SUSAN CAREY Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Sunday that he expects Gov. Rod Blagojevich to be impeached by the Illinois House and convicted by the state Senate, clearing the way for a special election in June to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Mr. Quinn, speaking on CBS News's "Face the Nation," said he hopes Mr. Blagojevich will be out of office by Feb. 12, when the state will celebrate the bicentennial birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The lieutenant governor added that he hopes Mr. Blagojevich will voluntarily resign. Either way, according to state law, Mr. Quinn would take over as acting governor. Getty Images Illinois Lt. Gov. Quinn said he hopes Gov. Blagojevich will voluntarily resign. Mr. Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges alleging, among other things, that he conspired to sell Mr. Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. The governor has denied wrongdoing, said he will fight the charges and has given no indication he plans to leave office. ... Mr. Quinn said Sunday that if he becomes acting governor, he would press the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow a temporary appointee to fill Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat ahead of a special state election in June on a successor, ensuring that Illinois "has two senators at all times." According to the Associated Press, Illinois Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, head of the impeachment committee, said last week that the governor's attorney, Edward Genson, asked her committee to subpoena two incoming Obama advisers, Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel, along with more than a dozen other individuals. But U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the committee not to subpoena Ms. Jarrett, who has been tapped to be a senior adviser to the president-elect, or Mr. Emanuel, the incoming chief of staff, to avoid interfering in the criminal investigation of Mr. Blagojevich that Mr. Fitzgerald is overseeing, the AP reported. ... Mr. Quinn, the lieutenant governor, said the fact that the federal prosecutor has declined to release investigative information to the impeachment committee won't stand in the way of a vote to end the governor's tenure. "There is so much other evidence the impeachment committee has considered," he said. Copyright ©2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
	Quote