Blago's Impeachment Begins

The Illinois House voted 113-0 yesterday to authorize a committee to look into Rod Blagojevich’s misdeeds, the first step towards impeaching the disgraced governor, the Chicago Tribune reports, in an unprecedented Democratic-led attempt to oust Illinois’ first Democratic governor in a quarter-century. But Democrats brushed off calls to strip the governor of the power to appoint Obama’s successor, drawing criticism from Republicans.

The committee will begin weeks of hearings today, and may subpoena witnesses and seek information from the US Attorney’s office. “This is not a kangaroo court,” promised the committee’s chair. Blagojevich, meanwhile, returned to work yesterday, signing a dozen bills into law. His attorney said he was unconcerned with the machinations to oust him. “Talk of impeachment is nothing new to the governor.” (More Rod Blagojevich stories.)