Gov. Rod Blagojevich was unanimously convicted at his impeachment trial and thrown out of office Thursday, ending a nearly two-month crisis that erupted with his arrest on charges he tried to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. Blagojevich becomes the first U.S. governor in more than 20 years to be removed by impeachment.
After a four-day trial, the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to convict him of abuse of power, automatically removing the second-term Democrat. Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, one of his critics, immediately became governor.
In a second 59-0 vote, the Senate further barred Blagojevich from ever holding public office in Illinois again.
“We have this thing called impeachment and it’s bleeping golden and we’ve used it the right way,” Democratic state Sen. James Meeks of Chicago said during the debate, mocking Blagojevich’s expletive-laden words as captured by the FBI on a wiretap.
We are the Governor of Illinois.
Do tell us if you’ve decided to play yourself in any TV movies.
Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times said today that Roland Burris is setting up a fundraising committe. This is not good news.
That probably would have been quite amusing
Good riddance.
Nice how they stamped a “GET OUT AND STAY OUT” seal on the package.
Does anyone know what the Illinois Constitution says about filling the vacant Lt. Governor’s office?
then he may run for his own term in 2010 and save the Democrats in Illinois for the Senate seat as well.
the longer Quinn is Governor, the more blame he’ll take for budget troubles, etc. I think the Democrats (for now) would be in a better position to give Quinn a pass in the ’10 primary. The guy is smart. Plain and simple. And will a far better CEO for the state. That said, primary the hell outta Burris. The Senate seat is “bleeping golden”.
AG Madigan for Senate. Quinn for Governor.
“Celebration Time, Come On!”
Congrats to Pat Quinn, Illinois’ new Governor. And nice to see a politician named after a great Canadian hockey coach.