Jan 29, 2009 2:00 pm US/Eastern
Ill. Senate Begins Deliberating Blagojevich's Fate
Blagojevich Says Trial Setting Dangerous Precedent For Future Governors; Senators Will Decide His Fate This Afternoon
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich addresses the Illinois Senate during his impeachment trial on Jan. 29, 2009, in Springfield, Ill.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Illinois Senate has started debating whether to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.
Democratic Sen. William Haine of Alton began deliberations by pointing out that Blagojevich presented no evidence to defend himself on the abuse-of-power charges.
And Republican Dale Righter of Mattoon called the governor "a devious, cynical, crass and corrupt politician."
Each senator can speak for up to five minutes on whether to convict Blagojevich.
They will vote later Thursday. It takes a two-thirds majority -- or 40 of 59 senators -- to convict.
Blagojevich addressed the Senate earlier, saying he's done nothing wrong and shouldn't be removed because of criminal allegations that haven't been proven yet.
As the political saga of Rod Blagojevich enters the final hours, the governor appeared before senators at his impeachment trial and told them there is "zero evidence'' that he has done anything illegal.
Blagojevich began speaking at 11:06 a.m. and spoke for about an hour.
"I am here to give you my side of the story,'' he said. "How can you throw a governor out of office on a criminal complaint when you haven't proven any criminal activity."
Blagojevich said he would never resign because "I didn't do anything wrong.'' He said his conviction would set a dangerous precedent for future governors.
He pleaded with the Senate for mercy, saying the past weeks have been "painful'' and "lonely.'' (More on Blagojevich statement here.)
In response, House prosecutor David Ellis said it was irrelevant whether or not Blagojevich had witnesses.
"Our point was on his words – his secretly-recorded words, and who in the world was more qualified to testify about the governor's words but the governor himself?" Ellis said. But Blagojevich did not come to the Senate trial until Thursday, and when he did, he didn't answer any questions that either Ellis himself or the Senators might have had.
"He talked more about the evidence with Barbara Walters on 'The View' than he did in this chamber today," Ellis said.
Speaking to CBS station WBBM-TV, as he entered the Capitol, Blagojevich conceded that he was sad it might be the last time he was walking into the building.
"That's life, you know. You've got peaks and valleys, and there are ups and downs, and there are moments of triumph and there are moments of disappointment, and there are times when you experience great joy and there are times of great sadness," he said. "This is not at all unique to me, and I'm not giving up hope. I'm going to fight for the people of Illinois."
When the hearings resumed at 10 a.m., Ellis began his hour-long closing argument. He said Blagojevich has proven "a pattern of abuse of power."
Ellis said Blagojevich saw President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat as a "golden goose, as a bargaining chip leveraged for his own future and political well-being." He quoted Blagojevich's alleged words on taped conversations outlined in a federal criminal complaint: "It's an f-ing valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing."
Blagojevich countered, saying that having an FBI agent verify the accuracy of the details in that criminal complaint during the trial does not prove anything.
Ellis also played wiretapped conversations between Blagojevich and lobbyist Lon Monk, who were talking about a campaign contribution from racetrack owner John Johnston in exchange for the governor's signature on a bill to aid the racing industry.
"Those four tapes [played at the trial] don't prove anything criminal,'' the governor said.
Ellis also addressed the allegations claiming that Blagojevich threatened to withhold funding to help the Tribune Company sell Wrigley Field unless Tribune editorial writers who opined against the governor were fired.
At 2 p.m., the Senate is expected to begin deliberations on whether to remove Blagojevich from office. If the governor is removed, which is likely, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn will take over.
As CBS station WBBM-TV reports, Blagojevich announced his decision on Wednesday to testify himself, after returning from a round of talk show appearances in New York and hearing senators, including Rickey Hendon of Chicago and Mike Jacobs of Alton, questioning whether the evidence was strong enough to warrant removal from office.
Blagojevich worked on his speech for Thursday until well after midnight.
"He at least wants to have his final say," spokesman Lucio Guerrero told reporters Thursday before Blagojevich left for Springfield.
Blagojevich would not be allowed to take questions even if he wanted to, which he does not. He also cannot call witnesses.
The governor is expected to fly back to Chicago before the Senate begins deliberating, and should be back home before Senators take their final vote.
When the Senate takes its final vote, its members will first vote on removing from office, then on a second article of impeachment which if approved, would disqualify Blagojevich from ever holding office again.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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