How Blago Celebrated Inauguration

Ill. guv played hooky from impeachment, got fingerprinted

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Jan 21, 2009 9:29 AM CST

(Newser) – Yesterday was special for a certain Illinois politician—and not just the one you’re thinking of. While Barack Obama was being sworn in, Gov. Rod Blagojevich was getting his fingerprints taken, reports the Chicago Tribune. Blagojevich also failed to enter a plea in his state Senate impeachment trial; he’s considering boycotting the whole proceeding. “Honestly, we just don’t know,” said his lawyer.

The state Senate, set to begin Blagojevich’s trial Monday, will interpret the governor’s missing plea as not guilty. “You have to recognize that this is a different kind of trial. This is an impeachment trial, a political proceeding,” said a spokesman for the Senate president. In other words, impeachment can go ahead, with or without Blagojevich.

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Gov. Rod Blagojevich applauds as he presides over the Illinois Senate Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Chicago Democrat John Cullerton, president of the Illinois Senate, says Gov. Blagojevich's lack of response to impeachment articles means a not-guilty plea will be entered. (AP Photo)

Gov. Rod Blagojevich presides over the Illinois Senate, Jan. 14, 2009, in Springfield. (AP Photo)

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You have to recognize that this is a different kind of trial. This is an impeachment trial, a political proceeding. I can't speculate on what any outcome may be, but do we proceed by our process, by our timeline? At this point, yes we do. -

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How Blago Celebrated Inauguration