Governor's impeachment trial a first for Illinois

WASHINGTON - Moments after President Barack Obama finished his landmark inauguration speech, the masses on the National Mall turned and began making their way home.

In that sea of people, Kevin Allen of Addison and several friends from Illinois promptly started a chant that attracted other locals to join in: "Rod must go. Rod must go. Rod must go."

Illinois lawmakers could be beginning that process today - turning their attention from the height of Obama's coronation to the ultimate low of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption arrest-inspired impeachment.

Through more than 190 years of political history, Illinois has never done this before. Three governors have gone to prison, but none has ever been impeached and removed from office.

So there's an air of uncertainty over these proceedings, furthered by the fact that Blagojevich is refusing to defend himself at the trial. Instead the governor has launched the most sweeping PR blitz of his political career, just days before it likely flames out.

He was scheduled to appear on Good Morning America, The View and Larry King today. A taped interview in which Blagojevich compares himself to Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela is set to air on the Today show. Blagojevich also told Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer that he was considered Oprah Winfrey for U.S. Senate.

Blagojevich and his attorneys are calling the Senate process a sham and refusing to take part, likely relying on a last-minute federal appeal in hopes of keeping Blagojevich in office.

"I'm not going to be a party to that process," Blagojevich said last week. "That would be a violation of my oath of office. That, to me, would be an impeachable offense."

Without a Blagojevich defense, some political observers have said the Senate trial could be wrapped up in a day. But with 13 witnesses on tap to lay out the prosecution's case against the governor, it appears the proceedings will take at least a few days if not most of this week.

Senators are eager to show they are taking their charge seriously even though many have previously said they despise the governor and want him gone.

"The governor is claiming this is a kangaroo court or that this is a lynching going on," state Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican, said in speaking at a press event with other suburban GOP members. "That's why every piece of evidence is important for us to look at and weigh."

Today's proceedings are expected to take up some motions on witness lists and trial documents. It's unclear whether there will be any actual witness testimony.

The Senate is currently scheduled to be in session on Saturday if needed.

While much of the evidence against the governor was aired during the House's earlier probe that led to impeachment charges, senators are expected to listen to portions of taped conversations in which the governor allegedly tries to land a large campaign contribution in exchange for signing a law that benefits racetracks. A federal judge decided Friday to release those tapes at the request of prosecutors and lawmakers.

Senate members have been cautioned not to talk about the case with reporters, a warning spelled out in the rules for the trial, though there are no explicit penalties for doing so. Members are also restricted in their use of cell phones and other electronic devices during the trial.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Fitzgerald presides over the trial and those involved in setting it up expect him to run a tight ship.

If a senator wants a question asked of a witness, a written request must be made to the justice. If the justice makes a ruling during the trial, the membership can overrule it with a simple majority vote.

Amid all the uncertainty, one thing is sure - what it will take to remove Blagojevich from office.

A conviction requires 40 votes in the 59-member chamber. Each member is essentially allowed to decide for him or herself whether the case has been made. The state Constitution offers no guidelines for determining guilt, leaving it up to lawmakers.

And many, including the governor, believe the verdict's also predetermined.

At a inaugural ball, former Illinois Senate member Debbie Halvorson - now a congresswoman - was asked how she'd vote if she'd remained in Springfield.

"He would be gone in 30 seconds," Halvorson said.

Daily Herald staff writer Jake Griffin contributed to this report.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://www.ilga.gov/senate/audvid.asp">LIVE: Video of the impeachment trial</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/packages/2008/blagojevich/">Daily Herald's complete coverage of the impeachment</a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=0125dv_blagojevich_latest&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Gov. to Defend Himself on TV Not at Capitol </a></li> </ul> <h2>Audio</h2> <ul class="audio"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=4&type=audio&item=34">Blagojevich considered Oprah for Obama's Senate seat</a></li> </ul> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=267107">Who's who in the impeachment trial of Gov. Blagojevich <span class="date">[01/26/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=267047">Blago likens himself to King, Ghandi <span class="date">[01/26/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>