Thu, December 18, 2008
Chicago, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich requested Wednesday some state lawmakers removed from an impeachment panel that will recommend whether the governor should be impeached.
According to reports from Springfield, the capital city of Illinois State, Attorney Ed Genson believed some members of impeachment committee had made public comments indicating they had already made up their minds.
He said they shouldn't be allowed to take part in the impeachment hearings. Genson also asked the committee to postpone action until the governor and his defense can prepare more thoroughly.
However, committee chairwoman Barbara Flynn Currie rejected both requests.
Last week's explosive charges and arrest of Blagojevich have put into play impeachment proceedings against the governor, which continue today in Springfield. The arrest also triggered a request to the Illinois Supreme court to remove Blagojevich from office.
Blagojevich was mainly charged with trying to trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for campaign contributions, an ambassadorship or job for himself and his wife.
