Blagojevich's Career Timeline: From Swearing-In To Federal Corruption Indictment

Key ethics points in the career of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, indicted Thursday on 16 counts of wire fraud, racketeering and extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements in a "pay-to-play" scheme to trade government action for personal and political enrichment beginning in 2002:

2003:

_Jan. 13: Blagojevich is sworn in.

_April 16: Hires inspector general to investigate government corruption.

_Dec. 9: Signs ethics legislation.

2006:

_June 30: In a letter released publicly, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald says he has witnesses to "very serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" in the Blagojevich administration.

_Oct. 11: Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a top Blagojevich fundraiser, is indicted on federal charges of using his political influence to squeeze kickbacks from companies seeking to do business with the state.

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_Oct. 27: Stuart Levine, a Republican fundraiser who ingratiated himself with Rezko, pleads guilty to mail fraud and money laundering as part of the Rezko scheme and agrees to cooperate.

_Nov. 7: Blagojevich is re-elected, handily beating Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka.

2008:

_April 22: Ali Ata, former director of the Illinois Finance Authority, pleads guilty to lying to the FBI about Rezko's role in getting him his state job and testifies against Rezko.

_June 4: A federal jury convicts Rezko of fraud, money laundering and bribery.

_Oct. 30: William Cellini, a major Illinois power broker, is indicted on charges of conspiring with Rezko to shake down an investment firm for campaign contributions to Blagojevich.

_Dec. 9: Federal agents arrest Blagojevich on corruption charges that include an alleged effort to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

_Dec. 15: The Illinois House votes 113-0 to create a committee to study the allegations against Blagojevich and recommend whether he should be impeached.

_Dec. 17: The Illinois Supreme Court rejects state Attorney General Lisa Madigan's effort to remove Blagojevich from office. She had argued the governor's legal and political troubles amounted to a disability.

_Dec. 19: A defiant Blagojevich holds first news conference since his arrest, proclaims his innocence and says he will not resign.

_Dec. 30: Blagojevich names former state Attorney General Roland Burris to replace Obama in the Senate.

2009:

_Jan. 8: A key House panel unanimously recommends impeachment for Blagojevich, setting up a vote of the full House.

_Jan. 9: The Illinois House votes 114-1 to impeach Blagojevich, the state's first governor in history to be impeached.

_Jan. 15: Burris sworn in as Obama's replacement.

_Jan. 23: Blagojevich holds a news conference to blast the upcoming Senate impeachment trial as unfair and says he won't participate. Defense attorney Ed Genson announces he's leaving the criminal case, suggesting Blagojevich wouldn't listen to him.

_Jan. 26: The Illinois Senate opens the impeachment trial; Blagojevich goes on a media blitz in New York to proclaim his innocence.

_Jan. 29: The Illinois Senate votes unanimously to remove Blagojevich from office and bar him from holding office in the future; Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn sworn in as governor.

_April 2: Blagojevich is indicted with five co-defendants.