The political career of Rod Blagojevich is over.
The Illinois state Senate has voted unanimously to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) from office. The 59-0 vote comes nearly three weeks after the state House voted 114-1 to impeach him.
The vote came after a lengthy, but ultimately unsuccessful, effort by Blagojevich to make his case that removing him from office was unwarranted and, without (as he said) proof of wrongdoing, would be a "dangerous and chilling precedent." But lawmakers were well aware of phone conversations the governor had -- taped by federal prosecutors -- that talked of, among other things, a desire to sell Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder.
The first line of a press release from Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL): "Good riddance."
The lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn (D), will be the new governor. He will be sworn in shortly. Click here to see his political profile.
categories: Crime And Punishment
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