Posted on 12/18/2008 3:37:32 PM PST by malkee
Illinois lawmakers could be forced to build their impeachment case against Gov. Rod Blagojevich on a raft of relatively small grievances, rather than the blockbuster Senate-seat-for-sale allegations, for fear of undermining federal prosecutors' criminal investigation.
Members of the state House impeachment committee said Thursday they will do nothing that would interfere with the investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. If Fitzgerald asks lawmakers not to interview certain witnesses, they will abide by that, they said.
"We do not want to get in the way of the United States attorney doing the work he does, and so whatever he says about where we can and can't go in our investigation, we are going to just simply say, `Fine, sir,'" said state Rep. Lou Lang, a suburban Chicago Democrat.
The committee would then probably emphasize some lower-profile allegations of misconduct against Blagojevich. Among them: defying the Legislature, failing to honor reporters' Freedom of Information requests, and trading state jobs and contracts for campaign contributions.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Blago and his attorney are counting on this...
Go, Blago, go!
This needs to be dragged out for the next two years, with Blago defying the demcorat criminal enterprise openly while dropping names ... kind of a Hansel and Gretel trail of fecal droppings.
I’m with you. If the legislature goes with these ‘low profile’ charges, Blago should keep the national presstitutes interested by leaking some Rahm conversations and the like...
The longer this drags out, the better chance of Blago suffering from Hyde Parkincide.
“This needs to be dragged out for the next two years...”
Agree, if BOs seat in the Senate remains empty, it’s as good (or in many cases better) than having a Republican there, when it comes to cloture.
Maybe. But he’s no newbie and probably has some decent insurance. Quite fascinating to say the least...
With RINOs like McCain there, having an empty seat is better than another RINO.
I thought the dump zone was Lincoln Park, along the Lake?
Exactly...an empty seat cannot vote for cloture, whereas a RINO can.
Well, technically it would be Kenwoodacide.
He was speaking of where the Oddfather lives not the Ultimate destination of the victim.
But there wouldn’t be any of that in Lincoln Park, too toney. More likely the river around Wolf’s Point.
Perhaps previewing his courtroom arguments, Genson on Thursday questioned the legality of the wiretaps. He warned the impeachment committee: "I think you're using evidence that was illegally obtained."
What is the cloture rule for less than a full Senate?
a. 3/5 of those present
b. 60 votes
Wouldn’t it be ironic if all the evidence Fitzgerald got on tape (6 weeks worth) was not permissible in the trial and he walks away on a technicality like that?
IMO, once it becomes a possibility that Blago will get off, all the Democrats who are calling for his head now will suddenly change their tune and start supporting him. They don’t want him blabbing. The DBM will start to paint him as a misunderstood and sympathetic figure.
With their short memories, people will forget what went on in the past couple of weeks.
I think 60 votes, as they were saying that the Dems had the Republican votes needed to win the bailout last week, but not enough Dems showed up for the vote.
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