A look ahead
Monday, Dec 29, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Blah, blah, blah…
The Illinois House committee investigating the possibility of impeaching Gov. Rod Blagojevich reconvenes Monday.
Blagojevich attorney Ed Genson is expected to take center stage. He said Sunday he plans to submit President-elect Barack Obama’s internal report on contacts with the governor to the panel.
Genson says the report will support the governor’s claims that he did nothing wrong in his handling of Obama’s vacant Senate seat.
All the report really shows is that Blagojevich wasn’t insane enough to directly offer a pay to play to Team Obama. BFC is right…
State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, chairwoman of the committee, said Sunday that Genson’s request to submit the report would probably be approved. But she expressed skepticism that the report would prove the governor’s innocence.
“Maybe in this particular instance someone didn’t run a stop sign, but it doesn’t say they didn’t run a different stop sign,” she said.
* Meanwhile, I’ve been telling subscribers about this, um, unfortunate convergence for a couple of weeks or so…
Embattled Gov. Blagojevich is supposed to be in federal court on Jan. 14 in Chicago. He also has the constitutional duty that day to preside over the state Senate in Springfield as new members are sworn in.
The clash between the governor’s duties and his legal problems promises to get interesting. The state Constitution requires the governor to be in the Capitol to run the Senate until its members elect a president.
But Blagojevich is also required to show up for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there’s probable cause for the case against him to proceed.
Then there’s the budget address, scheduled for February 18th. The State of the State address is not yet scheduled, but Blagojevich often combines the SOTS with the budget speech.
* Related…
* Fitzgerald asks panel not to subpoena Obama aides
* Blagojevich’s lawyer to submit internal report to impeachment panel
* Blagojevich attorney to submit Obama report
* More pieces to Senate seat puzzle
* Where the impeachment process stands today
* Governor can handle double duty
* Sen. Rutherford meets with FBI
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 9:50 am:
Has the governor been formally indicted? I seem to recall that he has to be indicted by a grand jury within 20 days of being charged, which would be today.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 9:53 am:
I don’t think that’s the case. You may be thinking of the rule that felons can’t be brought to trial within 20 days of an indictment.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 9:53 am:
Don’t Worry — If it’s 20 BUSINESS days they’re talking about, we’re only on day 13; with Christmas and New Year’s holidays and weekends factored in, that gives the feds until Jan. 8 to indict him.
- Easy - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 9:56 am:
From my understanding, it’s more likely that a formal indictment will come before the Jan. 14 hearing. A formal indictment then nullifies the need for the probable cause hearing.
- Anon - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 10:05 am:
So if he doesn’t convene the Senate, than there’s no Senate to hold an impeachment trial?
- TimB - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 10:24 am:
“Embattled Gov. Blagojevich is supposed to be in federal court on Jan. 14 in Chicago. He also has the constitutional duty that day to preside over the state Senate in Springfield as new members are sworn in.”
He still has access to the state plane fleet doesn’t he??!!! After all, he can appear before the legislature and still make a Blackhawks game so surely he can “lead” the Senate and stand before a court hearing with no problem!!
- Hank - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 10:25 am:
Rich, I agree with Anon, if Blago does not show up to preside over the swearing in of the new senate what happens? How could a Senate that has not been seated impeach Blago?
- Tired of the Mess... - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 11:21 am:
Hank-
Holy $@^&! That would be brilliant on Blago’s part. If there is no seated Senate, who conducts the impeachment trial?
Rich…
- Ghost - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 11:24 am:
If you want to chase this white rabbit, technically if Blago can not attend to the senate because of his court appearance, that may automatically invoke the authority of the Lt. Gov to step in for the day.
- the Other Anonymous - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 11:57 am:
“Maybe in this particular instance someone didn’t run a stop sign, but it doesn’t say they didn’t run a different stop sign,” [BFC] said.”
I like the line, but let me take a shot at clarifying the situation. All the report — if true — proves is that Obama and his team did not run the stop sign. There’s plenty of evidence that Blagojevich did run the stop sign, namely that he took overt acts in attempting to sell the Senate seat.
So what if he didn’t succeed, or even if no one took him seriously? You can run a stop sign without causing an accident, but you still ran the stop sign.
- Cheswick - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 12:07 pm:
People get continuances of court dates all the time. Don’t you think if Fitzgerald doesn’t oppose, the court would grant a new date? Assuming Blagojevich is still governor on the 14th.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 12:12 pm:
The Obama report reveals a galling level of arrogance and foolishness by Rahm Emanuel. He dragged the president-elect, right out of the box, into a mess where Obama has been subjected to a two-hour interview by the FBI — a dangerous proposition for anyone — not to mention the accompanying distractions and bad press.
According to the Obama report, Emanuel INITIATED contact with Blago after the election, on his own, to tell him he was taking the COS job and to recommend Valerie Jarrett. In that context, do you think Blago thought Emanuel was speaking just for himself? The taped transcripts of Blago and Harris in the criminal complaint sure don’t indicate that.
Later, according to the report, he advanced an approved “list” of Jan S., Tom Hynes, Triple-J, Tammy Duckworth, followed later by additions of Lisa Madigan and Cheryle Jackson. To what purpose? Could there be a more innocuous list? What did Obama gain by having Emanuel conversing with Blago’s people, up until Dec. 8, knowing full well that an Obama Justice Department would more than likely be prosecuting Blago for pay to play? How reckless.
I’m assuming the Obama report regarding Emanuel reflects what he told the FBI. He better be able to back it up. There’s a Tribune story that has him first talking to Harris and presenting a list of Senate candidates approved by Obama the Saturday before the election, contradicting the Obama report. And the criminal complaint refers to many more conversations with “others” regarding the Senate seat yet to be revealed.
- grategul - Monday, Dec 29, 08 @ 6:09 pm:
Remember Gov. Rod is the Reformer ????
He said ” No Pay to Play ”
Yes another Lie !!!!!
What Goes Around is Coming Around Soon!!!
I am Hardworking / I am Honest
I am Ethical / I have Integrity
Not/ Not / and Never Has or Will Be !!!
Only about a big pay back
I feel Sorry for the Stupid Taxpayers !!!!