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| Illinois moves against governor | Illinois moves against governor |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Illinois lawmakers have taken the first step towards impeaching state governor Rod Blagojevich by voting to begin an inquiry into grounds for impeachment. | Illinois lawmakers have taken the first step towards impeaching state governor Rod Blagojevich by voting to begin an inquiry into grounds for impeachment. |
| If the inquiry determines that impeachment is warranted, the house will vote on whether to impeach, and a trial in the state senate will follow. | If the inquiry determines that impeachment is warranted, the house will vote on whether to impeach, and a trial in the state senate will follow. |
| Mr Blagojevich was arrested last week for allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's senate seat. | Mr Blagojevich was arrested last week for allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's senate seat. |
| He denies the charges but is under pressure to stand down. | He denies the charges but is under pressure to stand down. |
| A statement released by Mr Obama's team said its own, internal review showed the president-elect had had no contacts with the governor's office and that his staff had not had any inappropriate discussions about the senate seat. | A statement released by Mr Obama's team said its own, internal review showed the president-elect had had no contacts with the governor's office and that his staff had not had any inappropriate discussions about the senate seat. |
| The team added that it would delay publication of the review at the request of federal investigators. | The team added that it would delay publication of the review at the request of federal investigators. |
| No 'inappropriate discussions' | No 'inappropriate discussions' |
| Mr Obama had said earlier that he was "appalled and disappointed" by Mr Blagojevich's alleged actions, and asked his staff to conduct a review of any contacts the governor may have made with the presidential transition team. CHARGES AGAINST BLAGOJEVICH Federal agents say Mr Blagojevich Tried to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions;Tried to use state funds for the private purpose of inducing the Tribune Company to fire Chicago Tribune editorial board members critical of him;Tried to obtain personal financial benefits for himself in return for his appointment of a US senator Profile: Rod BlagojevichRead Justin Webb on US patronage | Mr Obama had said earlier that he was "appalled and disappointed" by Mr Blagojevich's alleged actions, and asked his staff to conduct a review of any contacts the governor may have made with the presidential transition team. CHARGES AGAINST BLAGOJEVICH Federal agents say Mr Blagojevich Tried to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions;Tried to use state funds for the private purpose of inducing the Tribune Company to fire Chicago Tribune editorial board members critical of him;Tried to obtain personal financial benefits for himself in return for his appointment of a US senator Profile: Rod BlagojevichRead Justin Webb on US patronage |
| Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said the review had "affirmed the public statements of the president-elect that he had no contact with the governor or his staff, and that the president-elect's staff was not involved in inappropriate discussions with the governor or his staff over the selection of his successor as US senator". | Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said the review had "affirmed the public statements of the president-elect that he had no contact with the governor or his staff, and that the president-elect's staff was not involved in inappropriate discussions with the governor or his staff over the selection of his successor as US senator". |
| But Mr Pfeiffer revealed that the Obama team had been asked by the US attorney's office to "defer" public release of the review "in order not to impede their investigation of the governor". | But Mr Pfeiffer revealed that the Obama team had been asked by the US attorney's office to "defer" public release of the review "in order not to impede their investigation of the governor". |
| Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit last Friday asking the Illinois Supreme Court to declare Governor Rod Blagojevich "unfit to serve". | Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit last Friday asking the Illinois Supreme Court to declare Governor Rod Blagojevich "unfit to serve". |
| "In light of his arrest in the filing of the criminal complaint, Governor Blagojevich can no longer fulfil his official duties with any legitimacy," she said. | "In light of his arrest in the filing of the criminal complaint, Governor Blagojevich can no longer fulfil his official duties with any legitimacy," she said. |
| Wiretaps | Wiretaps |
| Federal investigators, who had been working on a case against Mr Blagojevich for several years, charged him last Tuesday with a number of offences, including soliciting a bribe. | Federal investigators, who had been working on a case against Mr Blagojevich for several years, charged him last Tuesday with a number of offences, including soliciting a bribe. |
| The charges relate to a variety of corruption schemes in which the governor was allegedly involved, including so-called "pay to play" deals - the doling out of jobs, contracts and appointments in return for campaign contributions. | The charges relate to a variety of corruption schemes in which the governor was allegedly involved, including so-called "pay to play" deals - the doling out of jobs, contracts and appointments in return for campaign contributions. |
| The US attorney's office released a 76-page FBI affidavit detailing the charges against Mr Blagojevich, which included transcripts of his telephone conversations intercepted by court-authorised wiretaps over several weeks. | The US attorney's office released a 76-page FBI affidavit detailing the charges against Mr Blagojevich, which included transcripts of his telephone conversations intercepted by court-authorised wiretaps over several weeks. |
| In the conversations, the Democratic governor allegedly discussed offering Mr Obama's senate seat in return for a well-paid position at a non-profit organisation or a group affiliated with trades unions, according to the affidavit. | In the conversations, the Democratic governor allegedly discussed offering Mr Obama's senate seat in return for a well-paid position at a non-profit organisation or a group affiliated with trades unions, according to the affidavit. |
| As governor, Mr Blagojevich has the sole authority to pick Mr Obama's temporary successor as senator until an election is held. | As governor, Mr Blagojevich has the sole authority to pick Mr Obama's temporary successor as senator until an election is held. |
| In the transcripts, on 3 November Mr Blagojevich said the seat was a "[expletive] valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing". | In the transcripts, on 3 November Mr Blagojevich said the seat was a "[expletive] valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing". |
| The day after the presidential election, according to the affidavit, Mr Blagojevich was recorded as saying: "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden, and uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing." | The day after the presidential election, according to the affidavit, Mr Blagojevich was recorded as saying: "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden, and uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing." |
| Mr Blagojevich caused outrage by returning to work on Wednesday, a day after he was released on bail having appeared before a federal judge. | Mr Blagojevich caused outrage by returning to work on Wednesday, a day after he was released on bail having appeared before a federal judge. |
| His lawyer told reporters that Mr Blagojevich believed he had done nothing wrong and had no plans to resign. | His lawyer told reporters that Mr Blagojevich believed he had done nothing wrong and had no plans to resign. |