-
CNN
|
Jan 29, 09 11:31 AM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich gave a passionate defense of himself at his Illinois Senate impeachment trial today, saying he had done “absolutely nothing wrong,” and reiterating his grievances—that he wasn’t allowed to bring witnesses, and that there is no real evidence against him, save for the infamous wiretap recordings. “There was no criminal activity on those four tapes,” Blagojevich argued. “Those four tapes speak for themselves.”
More »
-
-
Washington Post
|
Jan 29, 09 9:16 AM CST
(Newser) -
These days, everyone seems to find Rod Blagojevich hilarious. Everyone, that is, except the state of Illinois, writes David Broder of the Washington Post . When Blagojevich went on TV instead of testifying at his impeachment hearing, there wasn’t a hint of outrage. The media “treated Blagojevich as if he were a kind of lovable rascal, a scamp to be enjoyed for the laughs he provides.”
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 28, 09 3:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich will show up at his own impeachment trial after all. The Illinois governor will appear before the state Senate tomorrow, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich won't take questions but will deliver a closing argument on his own behalf. State senators could vote to remove him from office later in the day.
More »
-
Associated Press
|
Jan 27, 09 6:29 PM CST
(AP) -
Rod Blagojevich was hundreds of miles away, but his voice captivated the Illinois Senate today as impeachment prosecutors played FBI wiretaps of conversations in which he seems to demand campaign contributions in exchange for signing legislation. One person on the recordings assures Blagojevich that a horse-racing track owner "is good for it" and just has to decide "what accounts to get it out of." Another assures him the track owner knows he must keep his "commitment" soon.
More »
-
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 27, 09 12:05 PM CST
(Newser) -
Prosecutors walked FBI agent Daniel Cain through the affidavit detailing wiretapped conversations of Rod Blagojevich in the second day of the Illinois Senate’s impeachment trial against the governor, the Chicago Tribune reports. Cain confirmed comments attributed to Blagojevich taken from wiretapped conversations, including the governor’s attempt to sell the vacant Illinois Senate seat, which Blagojevich infamously described as, ahem, “golden.”
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 27, 09 10:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich probably didn’t help his case with his whirlwind media tour yesterday, “but he just might establish himself as an unofficial poet laureate of the criminal justice system,” Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post . Blago quoted Tennyson and Kipling all day, proclaimed his innocence, compared himself to MLK and Ghandi. He even let The View ’s Joy Behar muss his hair.
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 26, 09 8:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
The first day of Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate has ended after testimony from only one witness, the Chicago Tribune reports. Former federal prosecutor John Scully described how agents built a criminal case against the governor, approving wiretaps and bugs after a rigorous vetting process. “The seeking of this authority is not typical in most federal cases,” he said.
More »
-
ABC News
|
Jan 26, 09 1:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
Oprah was “amused” by the news that Rod Blagojevich had considered naming her to Obama’s Senate seat—but would not have been interested, ABC News reports. “Absolutely not,” Winfrey said in an interview this morning, citing the demands of managing her media empire. “I think I could be senator, too,” she added. “I’m just not interested.”
More »
-
Associated Press
|
Jan 26, 09 12:52 PM CST
(AP) -
The Illinois Senate has convened a historic impeachment trial that will determine whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich is removed from office, the AP reports. Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald began the trial today by reminding senators that they face "a solemn and serious business." They will consider charges that the Democratic governor tried to sell a Senate seat, used his authority to pressure campaign contributors, and defied legislative decisions.
More »
-
ABC News
|
Jan 26, 09 9:02 AM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich considered handing Barack Obama’s Senate seat to Oprah Winfrey, he told Good Morning America today in an appearance made while boycotting his impeachment trial, which starts today. "She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way to become president," Blagojevich said of Winfrey, adding that "she had a much broader bully pulpit than a lot of senators."
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 26, 09 2:22 AM CST
(Newser) -
Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich considers himself in the same company as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi, reports the Chicago Tribune. With his impeachment trial in the Illinois state Senate set to begin today, Blagojevich, accused of plotting to sell President Obama's Senate seat, is amping up the martyr talk in an interview taped for the Today show this morning.
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 25, 09 10:06 AM CST
(Newser) -
This may not come as a big surprise, but you haven't heard the last of Rod Blagojevich. The soon-to-be-impeached Illinois governor has hired the same PR firm that represents none other than suspected wife-killer Drew Peterson, the Chicago Tribune reports. Tomorrow—the same day his Senate trial begins—Blagojevich plans appearances on Good Morning America , The View , and Larry King Live .
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 24, 09 7:10 AM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich’s top lawyer in his criminal case is jumping ship, the Chicago Tribune reports. He told reporters as much in a statement just after a judge ruled that undercover Blago tapes could be passed to the state legislature. “I never require a client to do what I say," said Edward Genson, who’s practiced for 44 years. "But I do require them to at least listen."
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 23, 09 4:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich addressed his public again today, warning the citizens of Illinois that if he goes down they are all in danger, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blago likened his Senate impeachment trial, which he will boycott when it starts Monday, to a “hanging” and “a gross violation of every constitutional principle that exists.” Then came the cautionary part: “If they can do this to a governor, they can do this to any citizen in Illinois.”
More »
-
Associated Press
|
Jan 23, 09 9:40 AM CST
(Newser) -
Say this for Rod Blagojevich: He doesn’t embarrass easily. In an interview yesterday with the AP, he compared his arrest to Pearl Harbor: “Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States. It was a complete surprise, completely unexpected. And just like the United States prevailed in that, we’ll prevail in this.”
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 22, 09 4:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is being denied due process and accused the Illinois legislature of trying to “thwart the will of the people” by impeaching him, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich added that he wants to call White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to testify on his behalf, but is unable to subpoena witnesses.
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 21, 09 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.
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 16, 09 4:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ten days before Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the Illinois senate is scheduled to begin, the disgraced governor’s legal team has stepped down, the Chicago Tribune reports. A short timetable and the fact they can’t call witnesses make the situation “fundamentally unfair,” said the attorneys, comparing the trial to “a Potemkin-like lynching proceeding.” The team is still on board for Blagojevich’s criminal trial.
More »
-
The Hill
|
Jan 15, 09 1:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
Roland Burris was sworn in and seated in the Senate today as the junior senator from Illinois. Democrats had been loath to accept an appointee of Rod Blagojevich's, but the continued hubbub around the former Illinois AG was seen as a distraction. And Burris’ heroic attempts to get his credentials in order made his confirmation more palatable, the Hill reports.
More »
-
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 14, 09 2:39 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Illinois House voted today for the second time in less than a week to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Chicago Tribune reports. The newly sworn-in lawmakers voted 117-1 to uphold last Friday's decision, with the lone dissenting ballot cast by Chicago Democrat Deb Mell—the disgraced governor's sister-in-law. Today's appearance at the Capitol was Blagojevich's first since he was arrested last month.
More »
