Illinois Speaker Madigan Discusses Blagojevich Scandal, Impeachment (WATCH)

UPDATE

The resolution to create an impeachment committee passed the House unanimously, 113-0

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Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan took the first steps toward impeaching disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich Monday.

At a press conference in Springfield, Madigan announced the creation of a special committee to establish the standards of impeachment, review Blagojevich's case and decide whether the governor's actions merit dismissal.

"It is my intention to appoint a special committee to begin immediately an investigation into the governor's conduct in office and to undertake the preparatory work that is a prerequisite to an impeachment proceeding in the Illinois House," Madigan said.

The select committee on inquiry will meet every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It will be chaired by House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie. Justice Alan Grieman will serve as special counsel to the Speaker.

"We have given the governor six days to resign [and] he's declined to take the opportunity to resign," Madigan said. "I think it's time that we move forward with a committee of inquiry that could lead to impeachment."

The 21-member committee will have 12 Democrats and nine Republicans. Madigan would not give a timeline for when to expect its conclusions.

Asked why he has not joined the chorus calling for Blagojevich's resignation-- especially after being one of the governor's most forceful critics before the federal charges-- Madigan said, "because, in effect, I will be presiding over the impeachment ... and therefore I'll have nothing to say over whether I think he'll resign or not."

Watch Madigan's remarks:

Comments

[Big0725]

All of the right wing pissing and moaning and wishful thinking can not detract from this one fact, yesterday the Electoral College officially elected Barack Hussien Obama to be the 44th president of the United States of America.

AND YOU CAN'T DO A DAMN THING ABOUT IT!

[starfire426]

LATE BREAKING NEWS: AMAZING!!!!

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[Big0725]

113-0! Jeez, almost sounds unanimous!

[motoGpifupleez]

Come down on him like a ton of bricks.

[lesterbud]

Looks like he has the support of all his friends in the legislature!

[noinvolvement]

Why would anyone resign in this situation?

Please Save The Polar Bear!

http://digg.com/world_news/Robert_Kennedy_Junior_s_Plea_To_Save_The_Alaskan_Polar_Bear

[wesinohio]

Notwithstanding how unlikable the governor seems to be, at this point he seems to be guilty of only talking about importuning - in the third person. I haven't seen any evidence of a bribe being offered or taken. But I suppose in order to bring charges the feds would have had to had to have one of those two things - maybe with Jackson. Buth this also smells very fishy, considering the way federal prosecutors have been politicized under Bush/Cheney, with the possibility of a verbal entrapment situation, and the timing, and the way this is being used right now by the right wing media propaganda machine to color Obama with someone else's brush again, and to declare a scandal, albeit evidently unrelated to him, that his enemies nonetheless use for straw man attacks against him through innaugeration day to distract and demoralize and divide people.

[rigormrtis]

I love how the lawyer is saying the press is behind all of this.

Unless I forgot, the Federal Government is bringing these charges. People like Genson make me ill.

[Hank10303]

Now the house of cards will begin to fall. Blagojevich will name names in order to avoid jail time and get some kind of stipen if he can.

[kimleehan]

The hell with the dam impeachment, just pay the guy and get him out of dodge before he does any more damage. Sometimes you just got to bite the bullet and due whats best for the party.

[Ammobob]

What did Rahm know and when did he know it? If Rahm had been talking with Harris or Blago on numerous occassions about the seat, do you think Rahm mentioned it to Barry? If so, what was Barry's input? "RAHM you handle it, okay? I'm exhausted.­" Reports have RAHM preferring Jarret and promising 'gratitude' in return. Did Rahm okay that with Barry first? Did the TRANSITION TEAM know or at least suspect Blago was being bugged due to the extensive mention of his name in the REZKO trial? Or is Barry and Rahm just naive and 'lucked out' due to ingrained principles?

[mitsie]

You are taking a spec of dust and making a mountain out of it. There has been an ongoing investigation, there will be a trial at some point in time. People are to use to 24 hr news and everything being done immediately if not yesterday.

Why don't you take deep breathe, relax and have a Merry Christmas.

[That Guy]

This is how the Republican politics of manufactured outrage works. His hurry has nothing to do with being used to 24 hour news and everything to do with wanting to sling as much mud as fast as possible and see what sticks.

[JJK]

I think we have to take Obama at his word and wait until the Transition's report is released next week. The questions you raise about who did or said what and when they did or said it are legitimate and, I assume, are satisfactorily addressed in the Transition's report that is now in the hands of the Prosecutor. Obama is not yet covered by Executive Privilege, so he has to be reasonably forthcoming about discussions that Emanuel or other advisors had with him.

I am truly confident that Obama and Emanuel are too smart and too savvy to have screwed up here. It is possible that a naive lower level person had discussions or made comments that they should not have had or made, most likely without the auhorization of the Transition. Given Obama's statement yesterday, I assume that these will end up to be perhaps embarrassing, but not inappropriate.

[BethA]

Over and over some of you try to link Blago to Obama with implications of nefarious goings on. OF COURSE RAHM WOULD GIVE BLAGO PREFERENCES, NO DUH.

If the man prosecuting Blago says there is no nefarious connection to Obama and we all clearly read the transcripts that show Blago angry at Obama, then the only reason to continue to try and link them with this ridiculous innuendo and false speculation is just a waste of keystrokes.

[Big0725]

Blah, blah, blah!

If, if, if. If my d!ck was 12 inches, it would be a foot!

[Ammobob]

The initial response from his rival AG Madigan was telling. She wished the IL Supreme Court strip him of his powers as a mental defective. Didn't work. Many are scrambling to paint Blago as 'mad' or even legally insane, thus discrediting anything he may say in the future. The IL House may have voted to proceed with impeachment, but the TRIAL PHASE in the IL Senate will be very messy and could swallow many IL politicians, including Barry. I wonder what Fitz has on the 2 week wiretap gap not included in the original indictment?

[Kayttt2000]

I think your correct,,

There worried this could take down many IL politicans,business men,,along with being connected to Washington­....

Blago isn't mentally defective,,he's obnoxious,ruthless and outspoken and that's dangerous to the men connected to him...

[MCpiano]

There were 21 conversations between Rahm and Blago on the tapes.

[BethA]

No kidding. So what. Nobody with a brain and who listened to the prosecutor on Day 1 is buying this made up Republican conspiracy. But then that's the same party that insisted there were WMD's so we all know how reliable their information is!

[Ammobob]

NObama's patented response to scandal:

1. He's just a Governor that lives down the street. Hardly know him.
2. He's not the Governor I used to know
3. I condemn everything he stands for or says.
4. Can we change the subject now?

[mitsie]

Just curious but do you like to hit and run?

[MCpiano]

I have noticed this trend, the accusation given to comments you don't agree with, to try to marginalize them as "hit and run." I try to follow any comments I make to discuss any credible replies.

Give the commenter a chance to respond.

[MCpiano]

5. Just let me eat my waffle

[notquitethatfast]

Good for him. About time one of these Democratic crooks decided to stand up to the other Democratic crooks.

Robert Kenn-edy Junior's Quest To Save The Alaskan Polar Bear

http://digg.com/world_news/Robert_Kennedy_Junior_s_Plea_To_Save_The_Alaskan_Polar_Bear

[mitsie]

Sorry but the Repubs are just as crooked if not more. There are rotten apples on both sides. Why don't you note the number of Repubs that were arrested, have gone to jail, are awaiting trial or sentencing? I say, both parties need to clean out the rotten and get back to the people's business.

[BillyShears]

Caption for the picture on the front page: "Who's gonna get impeached? THIS guy!"