Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Impeached

by Elizabeth Fairview | January 9th, 2009

Disgraced Illinois govenor talks to the media at his home in Chicago, after the Illinois House voted Friday to impeach him. (AP Images)

Today, state legislators voted 114 to 1 to make Rod Blagojevich the first Illinois governor to be impeached for abuse of power.

The Senate trial is expected to take at least three weeks, and the final action will take place sometime in February. If Blagojevich is thrown out of office, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn would take his spot.

Blagojevich had sole power in choosing Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate and was attempting to sell the seat to the highest bidder.

Reportedly, there are secret tape recordings of Blagojevich, which recorded him saying the Senate seat is "a fucking valuable thing. You just don't give it away. I've got this thing and it's fucking golden."

Blagojevich had named Roland Burris to take President-elect Barack Obama's place in the U.S. Senate, however the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the appointment of Burris does not require the signature of the secretary of state who had previously refused to sign off on it.

"It's our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that's become Illinois government," said Democratic Rep. Jack D. Franks.

Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the Chicago Democrat who headed the special committee, said the impeachment resolution shows, "a public servant who has betrayed his oath of office, who has betrayed the public trust, who is not fit to govern the state of Illinois."