Illinois AG Wants Governor Removed

Files Motion To Have Blagojevich Ousted; Blagojevich's Chief Of Staff Resigns

(CBS/ AP)  In an unprecedented move, the Illinois attorney general asked the state's highest court Friday to strip scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich of his powers.

Lisa Madigan took the action as pressure on the governor intensified to step down and lawmakers considered impeachment. And the fallout over the scandal continued Friday as the governor's chief of staff resigned; John Harris was arrested along with the governor on Tuesday.

Madigan said that she took the action with the Supreme Court because she thinks that this is a faster way to strip Blagojevich of his power than through impeachment, which could take several weeks.

"I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary circumstances," Madigan said at a news conference in Chicago.

Illinois Supreme Court spokesman Joseph Tybor would not comment on when the court might act on Madigan's motion, saying only that it "will be properly considered." The justices also have the discretion to deny the attorney general's request.

The move came as the governor prayed with several ministers in his home before heading to his office, telling them he is innocent and will be vindicated "when you hear each chapter completely written," according to one of the pastors.

The attorney general asked the court for a temporary restraining order or an injunction that prevents Blagojevich from serving as governor. The filing says he is "unable to serve as governor due to disability and should not rightfully continue to hold that office."

"The pervasive nature and severity of these pending charges disable Mr. Blagojevich from making effective decisions on critical, time-sensitive issues," the filing said.

The filing asks that the lieutenant governor assume Blagojevich's powers.

It is the first time in Illinois history that such an action was taken. The attorney general is applying a rule that was intended to cover cases where a governor is incapacitated for health reasons. Her motion indicates that his inability to serve because of the scandal is akin to a debilitating health issue.

The motion essentially declares that Blagojevich's legal problems amount to a disability that would not be resolved until he is either cleared of the charges or leaves office.

"Mr. Blagojevich is unable to distinguish between his financial interests and his official duties and between illegal acts and legal conduct, rendering him incapable of legitimately exercising his ability as governor," Madigan says in the motion.

Prior to Blagojevich's arrest, Madigan had already been considering a run for governor.

"His ability to provide effective leadership has been eliminated and the state government is paralyzed."

Just hours after Madigan's news conference, Blagojevich defiantly ignored the pressure to step down and signed a bill that would give insurance coverage to parents of children with autism.

Madigan's motion came three days after Blagojevich was accused of putting Barack Obama's Senate seat up for sale and shaking down the owners of the Chicago Tribune.

Of those mentioned or alluded to in the criminal complaint involving the governor's alleged pay-to-play scheme to fill Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat, none is being targeted by prosecutors so far, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

Mr. Obama has asked his aides to list their contacts with Blagojevich. And while it would be no surprise to see that someone on Mr. Obama's staff at least talked about the issue with the governor, Reynolds reports there's been no suggestion of impropriety by anyone on the Obama team -- a point driven home last night by top aide David Axelrod.

"No one in their wildest imagination could have imagined this scenario," Axelrod said.

The decision to go to the state's highest court was not welcomed by everyone. Democratic Rep. Jack Franks said it would set "a dangerous precedent" for the court to remove a governor as Madigan proposes. Franks, a fierce Blagojevich critic, said that kind of decision should be left to the General Assembly.

"That's our job, and we should be doing it," he said.

The governor has been alternately holed up in his home or his downtown office since his arrest on federal corruption charges. He met with clergymen Friday morning.

The Rev. Ira Acree of the Greater St. John Bible Church said Blagojevich would not discuss details of the allegations against him.

He said the governor discussed trying to get a legal and political consultation team in place, but feels as if everything is closing in on him and that he's not getting "any space or chance to sort anything out."

Acree and two other pastors - The Rev. Steve Jones, president of the Baptist Pastor's Conference, and the Rev. Marshall Hatch of the New Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church - arrived at the governor's home shortly after 8 a.m. and met with him for about 20 minutes.

Jones said they prayed with Blagojevich and his family.

"I look at it like this: Everybody that's hurting needs hope and the family needs hope and that's what our jobs are as pastors," Jones said. "Nobody should be left hopeless. Nobody, no matter what the circumstances."

Shortly after they left, a fourth minister, the Rev. Leonard Barr of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, arrived at the governor's house with his wife, Rita.

He said they were invited by the governor and that the two "prayed that he would continue to be a great governor for the state of Illinois."

Meanwhile, calls for the governor to step down are intensifying. The lieutenant governor has joined a bevy of lawmakers in demanding that Blagojevich be impeached, saying he has become an embarrassment to the state and can no longer lead. His approval rating plummeted to a shockingly low 8 percent.

"When you have no confidence from the people, in a democracy there's nowhere else to go but to resign," Lt. Pat Quinn said Thursday.

[endurorob]

One thing to keep in mind here is her father is the president of the Illinois state senate and a rival of Blago. I sill think he should be removed but......

[Cas2dy]

What is his disability?????????????????????????


Posted by annd2302

This is the way government puts their twist on laws when it wishes to pursue an end to certain means. This guy has no disability. I am disabled and I am insulted that the government seeks to label him as disabled. This way, he can go out under a disability clause which simply means that punishing him will be either not an option (he''ll just be let go, with benefits, because he can no longer perform the functions of his job) or his punishment will be minimal. His humiliation will probably wind up being his worst punishment. Who''s gonna wanna hire him now anyway?

[clancy49]

According to our American laws an individual is innocent until proven guilty. Where on earth will this Governor get a fair trial? Is he guilty of using his office for personal gain, power, and interests? Or does he consider what he did acceptable favor exchanges? Is ignorance of the law an excuse? Is murkiness a viable plea bargain? Tell that to the American Public, Federal, State, County, and City workers that would be fired, and or jailed for such conduct in a heartbeat. Yes, take back this country and make it clear what we do and don''t expect from those who are supposed to represent the interests of the American people. That is all legislative representatives of the United States, not merely isolated cases here and there. Make our legislative representatives follow the same laws the American worker must follow. No more political impunity.

[mbskoczen]

What crime has Gov. Blago committed?

All he did was talk about the political favors he would want back.. There is crime in doing that..

[bhappy2-2]

Have you seen this? They only need two more states to convene.

http://www.congresscheck.com/2008/12/12/globalist-constitutional-convention-dealt-a-defeat-in-ohio/

They want to rewrite the Constitution to eliminate our rights.

[dixxson-2009]

Al Gore says, Focus on Global Warming not O J & Paris.I get his meaning. When his film was released TV Hosts Like {TUCKER CARLTON} had guest on his show to discuss the Film, Tucker said, HE''S PUT ON WEIGHT HASN''T HE?
His guest never got around to Global Warming.
So when this story broke, You heard HE WAS CLOSE TO OBAMA, HE KNEW JESSIE JACKSON". I like to think the things we said about McCain & Palin were relevant,
significant! But these reports about a GOVERNOR who knew some of his Senators and Representatives is the same kind of Reporting Tucker did. And Al Gore is complaining about".

[annd2302]

What is his disability?????????????????????????

[cattiej]

I am asking Rod Blagojevich to resign from office of our Governor of Illinois immediately. If you don''t resign you will then be impeached. The citizens of Illinois demand you resign. You may have some corrupt politicans on your side but they too will be found out and they too can go to prison with you. Perhaps we should build a prison especially for the future home of all the crooked, greedy politicans. It would be filled to the brim very quickly. People, it is time for us to take back our country from these corrupted politicans.

[incog-nito]

That''s got to be a toupee. that hair just doesn''t look natural.

[ajmarine111]

It''''s time we''''ve gotten Blago''''s story from Blago. It would be the right thing to do.

Posted by pepperwood2 at 10:09 PM : Dec 12, 2008




Everyone is waiting for him to take the stage and set us straight.

I, for one, will apologize to the "Mobster Look alike" if he is innocent.

[pepperwood2]

Madigan said that she took the action with the Supreme Court because she thinks that this is a faster way to strip Blagojevich of his power than through impeachment, which could take several weeks.

The Rest of the Story - MADIGAN took action because the sooner the Demo''s can get this out of the news & the truth hidden, the better it will look when Obama & the transparency of his Presidency is sworn in. Time is of the escence.

Just how much $$$$ did it take for her to come out of the woodpile to kick Blago in the ..... while he''s down.

How many more of these kinds of people are going to come forward to condemn him? They seem to enjoy casting stones. It''s time we''ve gotten Blago''s story from Blago. It would be the right thing to do.

[jerr11]

Why is it so hard to remove this crook?

Perhaps Robert Mugabe should think about running in Illinois.

It''s the perfect fit for him!

[ajmarine111]

AG Madigan wants Blago remonved due to a disability and what is his disablity?

Posted by wdh3007 at 09:44 PM : Dec 12, 2008




The motion essentially declares that Blagojevich''s legal problems amount to a disability that would not be resolved until he is either cleared of the charges or leaves office.

[wdh3007]

AG Madigan wants Blago remonved due to a disability and what is his disablity? If that''s her case then so much for the Americans with Disabilities Act. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law otherwise everything is hearsay any attorney general who ever opened a law book knows that

[rwsmith29456]

I''ll bet he''s not stepping down because he has dirt on a lot of important people.

[ajmarine111]

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama is refusing to answer any questions about the internal review he has ordered into Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich''s alleged efforts to sell his former Senate seat, saying he will do so when the examination is finished.

Obama''s staff has declined to respond to even basic questions, like who is conducting the probe, how long it will take, what issues are being explored and whether they are working with federal investigators. Obama has promised transparency throughout his service and to divulge contacts his staff has had with Blagojevich''s office in the coming days. But his staff has locked down on inquiries in the meantime.

[ram19491]

I think the governor is innocent by law until proven otherwise. His enemies are trying to hang him before he has a day in court. He may be all they are saying, but there is still a chance otherwise.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

Well, one thing for sure, Gov. Rod (Sweet Cheeks) Blagojevich, will be facing FEDERAL prosecution.

Upon his conviction, he WILL be going to prison, where he will learn that he cannot use hair dye.

[cattiej]

Meanwhile, Ladies and Gentleman, back at the ranch...
Here in Illinios, no bills due were paid today, Medicaid to Nursing homes, gasoline for State Troopers, Money to the pharmacies, money to schools, etc. Illinois tonight is in a 911 Crisis mode. Our State Politicans who are reading this, get your butts to Springfield tonight, hold an emergency session, get Rod Blagojevich out of office tonight. Lock the doors to his offices. I have tried to call our State Senators and Reps and no one answers their phones. Are they all on vacation.
Yes, chicken little, the sky IS FALLING, and it''s falling on Illinois.
No, Virginia, there will be no Christmas for the people of Illinois.
The grinch, who''s name is Rod Blagojevich has stolen our Christmas.

[endurorob]

Peace loving people of US should organize a witch hunt against republicans, let them pay for all of this crime they commited in last 8 years, let no allowed the basta**s of hook so easy like that.



Posted by zokin

Peace loving Americans don''t organize witch hunts. That is the job of the Puritans and Europeans.