Jan 28, 2009 4:00 pm US/Eastern
Illinois Gov. Asks To Speak To Impeachment Trial
Senate President Upset Blagojevich Has Skipped Proceedings Thus Far
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ―
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Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks at a press conference at the James R. Thompson Center on Jan. 9, 2009, in Chicago, Ill.
David Banks/Getty Images
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked to speak to before the Senate impeachment trial Thursday, the state Senate president says. Senate President John Cullerton had challenged Blagojevich Wednesday to show up and explain himself while Republicans complained the trial was moving too quickly.
Cullerton, D-Chicago, objected to Blagojevich's tour of national news and talk shows. The Democratic governor has put up no defense, avoided the trial he calls unfair and said wiretapped conversations released when he was arrested on federal corruption charges are being taken out of context.
"If he wants to come down here instead of hiding out in New York and having Larry King asking questions instead of the senators, I think he's making a mistake," Cullerton said. "He should come here and answer the questions and provide the context he claims that these statements are being taken out of."
Meanwhile, impeachment prosecutor David Ellis said he will call fewer witnesses than originally planned because much of the material was covered Tuesday by the testimony of an FBI agent. That means he may be able to finish presenting his case Wednesday.
Republicans objected, saying they wanted to hear from everyone possible, even if they're just summarizing the conclusions of the Illinois House impeachment probe.
"I'll sit here on Super Bowl Sunday, if I have to, to make sure the governor of the great state of Illinois gets a fair trial," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale.
The senators weighing Blagojevich's political fate have listened to the governor's voice captured on a secret government wiretap and heard an FBI agent say the recordings caught one corrupt scheme after another.
Now they'll hear accusations Blagojevich violated the constitution by defying the Legislature, evaded state hiring laws and wasted tax dollars -- issues decidedly less sensational than the federal corruption charges against the two-term governor.
The witness list includes Auditor General William Holland, whose reviews of government agencies often have found examples of mismanagement and improprieties under Blagojevich, as well as experts on the powers of a legislative committee the governor defied.
Ellis said he may cut back on testimony from lawmakers describing the findings of the House investigation and testifying on the damage the Blagojevich scandal has done to the state.
On Tuesday, the trial heard recordings of several conversations in which Blagojevich appears to discuss demanding campaign contributions in exchange for signing legislation.
One person on the recordings, identified as Blagojevich's brother and campaign chairman Robert Blagojevich, assures the governor that a horse-racing track owner "is good for it" and just has to decide "what accounts to get it out of."
Another person, lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff Lon Monk, assures him the track owner knows he must keep his "commitment" soon. Blagojevich replies with comments like "good" and "good job."
Senators conducting the impeachment trial, which Blagojevich is boycotting, listened intently as the fuzzy, indistinct telephone conversations echoed through the room.
The allegation at the center of the tapes is that Blagojevich improperly pressured John Johnston, owner of two Chicago-area harness-racing tracks, to donate money by the end of 2008, when a new ethics law would take effect and restrict donations. Prosecutors say Blagojevich threatened not to sign legislation giving tracks a portion of casino-generated revenue unless he got the donation.
It's not clear whether Johnston ever made a donation; federal prosecutors have seized Blagojevich's campaign records. Johnston has not been charged with any illegal activity, and his attorney denies Johnston ever requested any quid pro quo.
None of the people on the calls specifically mention money. Monk and Robert Blagojevich have not been charged with any crime.
The governor was arrested last month on a variety of corruption charges, including scheming to benefit from appointing President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate replacement and demanding campaign contributions in exchange for state services.
Lawmakers, who could vote within days on whether to remove Blagojevich, heard only a few minutes of FBI tapes. But an FBI agent vouched for the accuracy of many other Blagojevich quotes that were included the federal criminal complaint.
As Blagojevich's private words took center stage in Springfield, the governor remained in New York for the second day of a media tour focused on portraying the impeachment as unfair and politically motivated.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Blagojevich did not directly answer when asked whether he will step aside quietly if convicted by the Senate.
"Whether or not there are legal remedies to pursue beyond this, we haven't really discussed," he said. "But I'm not going to rule out what some of those options might be."
Blagojevich, 52, doesn't deny making the comments alleged by federal prosecutors. But he says they were taken out of context and don't amount to anything illegal.
If the Senate convicts him, Blagojevich will be removed from office and replaced by Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, a fellow Democrat.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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