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- 8th governor in U.S. history to be impeached and removed from office
- Final vote to remove from office: 59-0
- Blagojevich has been arrested on a criminal charge but not yet found guilty of a crime
- Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan announced a committee was being formed on Monday, December 15, 2008Cbs4.com: Illinois Politicians Issue Fresh Calls for Governor Rod Blagojevich... (December 15, 2008)
- Hearings began on December 16, 2008USA Today: Panel begins Blagojevich impeachment review (December 16, 2008)
- On January 8, 2009, the Illinois House committee unanimously recommended Blagojevich be impeached for abuse of powerLocalNews8.com: Illinois House Committee Recommends Impeachment... (January 8, 2009)
- On January 9, 2009, the House voted to impeach BlagojevichNewsday: Illinois House impeaches Blagojevich (January 9, 2009)
- The only member who voted against the impeachment was Democrat Milt PattersonNewsday: Illinois House impeaches Blagojevich (January 9, 2009)
- Since the Illinois House voted to impeach Blagojevich, the Illinois Senate holds trialUSA Today: Panel begins Blagojevich impeachment review (December 16, 2008)
- Blagojevich's impeachment trial got underway on January 26, 2009
- Illinois senators heard FBI wiretap recordings of Blagojevich on January 27, 2009
- Blagojevich delivered a closing argument at his trial on January 29, 2009
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On January 29, 2009, the Illinois State Senate voted unanimously to remove former governor Rod Blagojevich from office.STL Today: Rod Blagojevich removed from office as Illinois governor (January 29, 2009) Blagojevich had been impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives on January 9, 2009 by a vote of 114-1. It marks the first time in the state's history that a governor has been impeached and ousted.Chicago Tribune: Blagojevich impeached (January 9, 2009) He was replaced by Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn.
On March 2, 2009, Blagojevich's publicist Glenn Selig told media sources that the ex-governor had signed a "six figure" book deal with Phoenix Books, to be on the "dark side" of politics. Selig warned that the subject might "embarrass" some Illinois politicians.Reuters: Ex-Governor Blagojevich gets a book deal (March 2, 2009)
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Background
During a press conference on December 15, 2008, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said that the committee will work until the end of the session on January 14, 2009, with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day. 75 House members were in favor of impeaching Blagojevich, more than the majority needed for the resolution.Cbs4.com: Illinois Politicians Issue Fresh Calls for Governor Rod Blagojevich... (December 15, 2008) An impeachment committee approved by the Illinois House of Representatives began deliberations on whether to remove Governor Rod Blagojevich on December 16, 2008. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan announced the formation of the House committee the day before. Blagojevich was arrested on December 9, 2008, in connection with federal corruption charges.CNN: Details from Rod Blagojevich's 74-page affidavit (December 9, 2008) -
Blagojevich a No-Show at Impeachment Trial
Rod Blagojevich skipped the first day of his impeachment trial, which opened on January 26, 2009, in Springfield, Illinois. Instead, he defended himself on a variety of talk shows, including The Today Show and The View. On these shows, he made a variety of revelations - including that he had considered Oprah Winfrey to fill Obama's vacated Senate seat - and reiterated his previous claim that the impeachment is an excuse by Illinois lawmakers to remove him from office and eliminate his plans to cut state income tax levels.Los Angeles Times: Blagojevich compares self to Gandhi (January 26, 2009) -
January 23 Press Conference
On January 23, 2009, Blagojevich held a press conference where he defended himself from the charges and said that the rules in the State Senate impeachment trial are unfair. Blagojevich especially criticized the fact that testimonies that might jeopardize the criminal corruption trial will not be allowed, which bars Blagojevich from calling some of the witnesses he would like to testify.WBBM: Blago: They're Just Hanging Me (January 23, 2009) -
Vote to Impeach
Of the 114 members of the 116-member Illinois House of Representatives who voted to impeach Blagojevich, only Democratic South Siders Milton Patterson (who voted 'no") and Elga Jefferies (who voted present) disagreed with the movement.Chicago Breaking News: Lone 'No' vote is Rep. Patterson (January 9, 2009) In a press conference after the vote, Blagojevich reiterated his innocence, complaining that he had been the target of the Illinois House for years. -
Genson
On January 16, 2009, Blagojevich's lawyer, Ed Genson, announced that he was pulling out as Blagojevich's representative during the impeachment trial. However, Genson said that he would stay on as Blagojevich's criminal defense attorney and represent Blagojevich in regards to the federal corruption charges brought against him.TIME: Blagojevich Lawyer Pulling Out of Trial (January 16, 2009) -
Subpoenas
Blagojevich's attorney requested that the investigating panel subpoena advisers of President Barack Obama, including Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr. Prosecutors informed the panel that the testimony of these witnesses could jeopardize their ongoing investigations. As a result, the panel declined to subpoena anyone from Obama's team.CNN: Panel investigating Blagojevich won't subpoena Obama's advisers (December 28, 2008) -
Wiretap Tapes
On the second day of the trail, Illinois senators heard the FBI's wiretap recordings made of Blagojevich in December 2008. On the taped recordings, Blagojevich can be heard discussing a "shakedown" of horse racing executive John Johnston, in exchange for a contribution to his campaign fund.Chicago Sun-Times: State senate hears Blagojevich wiretap tapes (January 27, 2009) FOX News: Illinois Senate Hears FBI Tapes of Blagojevich (January 27, 2009) -
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