Was Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich treated fairly?
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
January 30, 2009 1:22am CST
Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich was impeached today. In a statement he made he said I am being impeached based on an accusation. I have not been charged with a crime, I have not been convicted of a crime. I also read where he could not call others who were on the tape because it might influence the case against him. Most constitutions call for impeachment for High Crimes and Misdemeanors. According to the tapers and interpretations I have heard he talked about money and favors, he may have promised some in return of the Senate seat, but he did not receive any. No money changed hands and he received nothing for all the talk.
After the President Obama Stimulus bill is passed how many Senators and Congressmen will be receiving campaign contributions. How may will be charged with selling their vote for money or favors?
I do think that Rod Blagojevich is a crook and abused his office, but that is my opinion. As the old song goes "You can't go to Jail for what you are thinking" or can you?
3 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Jan 09
Actually, the Illinios State Constitution doesn't specify "high crimes and misdemeanors" as the basis for impeaching a governor. It just gives the House of Representatives the power to conduct legislative investigations to determine cause and the Senate power to conduct the trial. The governor doesn't have to be convicted of any crime in order to be impeached.
SECTION 14. IMPEACHMENT
The House of Representatives has the sole power to
conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence
of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of
the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial
officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When
sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or
affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor
is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall
preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence
of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not
extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to
hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer,
whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to
prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
30 Jan 09
I am sure that he was not impeached just on say so as he would like us to believe. This man has had his fingers in the cookie jar for quite some time and so hasn't his wife and her family. It will all come out. I as an Illinois resident am just thankful he is gone.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
31 Jan 09
The point is you are sure but he has not been charged with anything. In the eyes of the law he has committed no crime. He has not been charged with a crime. If someone says that you were driving drunk and they go to court and accuse you and tell the judge you were talking about getting drunk and driving home. The do not see you driving drunk or even know if you were drunk just that you said you would be doing it. The judge says I believe you and fines you $500 and puts you in jail for 90 days. Is that justice?
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
30 Jan 09
Looks like they had enough reason to impeach him. At least he didn't hand out a blanket pardon to everybody involved who might get convicted because of what happened. That's what our former governor did (Fletcher in KY). It was like, yeah, go ahead and try these people, but no matter what sentence you give them, they walk away scott free.
It is my understanding that the FBI did file charges and his trial will be sometime in the summer. I did not listen to the tapes, only read excerpts here and there, which do indicate that something fishy was going on and some sort of favor was supposed to change hands. I'm sure this is something probably commonly done in politics behind closed doors. He was stupid enough to get taped. Our ex-governor fell into a similar trap by using emails and leaving a nicely to follow trail. Everybody knows that the former governors did the same thing (handing out lucrative government positions to donors and supporters despite the fact that more qualified applicants are available).
The Blagojevich case of course reached national publicity and he was somebody people disliked to begin with. People wonder how he managed to get re-elected as the dislike is not really something new. I'm sure the national embarrassment added to the facilitation of the impeachment. Will this change anything in IL politics? Not very likely;)
