©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Blago: Impeachment Violates Rights |
Gov. Rod Blagojevich says the rules that govern his impeachment trial in the state Senate go against the Constitution and the right to a fair trial.
Speaking in Chicago Friday, Blagojevich said the rules prohibit him from calling witnesses and don’t allow him to challenge charges against him.
Blagojevich says he is "eager" to go to Springfield and participate in the trial, but says if he did, he would not be upholding the Constitution and the rights of due process and fairness.
The governor also called on editorial boards at newspapers around the state to challenge leaders in the State Senate on the rules. He specifically mentioned the Chicago Tribune. Blagojevich is accused of trying to shake down the paper's owner and have editorial members fired in exchange for state support for improvements at Wrigley Field, which the Tribune Co. owns.
Blagojevich said he would like to call other governors who worked with him on a program that allowed senior citizens to buy prescription drugs from Canada. Blagojevich claims the rules do not afford him that opportunity.
The rules say that witnesses not linked to the criminal complaint against Blagojevich can be called to testify. Senate members who laid out the rules say Blagojevich could call those governors if he chooses and those people who are mentioned in the criminal complaint, such as U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago) and White House staffers Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett could give statements under oath as an affidavit and those could be entered into evidence.
The governor dismisses those claims and says he believes the only reason lawmakers are moving ahead with the impeachment is so that they can raise taxes. Blagojevich says a tax hike between 3 percent and 6 percent is certain to happen if he is impeached.
State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) spoke after Blagojevich. On the governor's statement about a tax hike Murphy said, "That was probably the most accurate thing [Blagojevich] said today."
The Senate trail is set to begin Monday at noon. The governor could try and have a court postpone the trial. He says his lawyers are looking into it. The governor is not expected to show up in his defense.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
|
| 01 23 09 by Newsroom |
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
