Ill. AG ask state Supreme Court to remove Blago

Chicago Tribune:

Atty. General Lisa Madigan called on the Illinois Supreme Court today to temporarily remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office and appoint Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn as acting governor, "so the business of the state of Illinois can go forward."

Madigan said she wants the court to bar Blagojevich from directing state contracts along with a broad range of state business.

One of her goals is to prevent Blagojevich from using his power to appoint a U.S. senator to replace President-elect Barack Obama, who abandoned the seat as he prepares to enter the White House.

...

In the motion, Madigan argues that, given the nature and severity of the federal corruption allegations against Blagojevich, the Supreme Court should stop the governor from performing his duties. She asks the court to allow Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn to temporarily assume those duties under the Governor Succession Act in state law.

If the court doesn't hand over the governor's duties to Quinn, Madigan argued, Blagojevich should be blocked from appointing a senator to fill the Obama seat. She also sought to prevent Blagojevich from acting on legislation sent to him by the Illinois House or Senate, directing state agencies in the negotiation and execution of contracts or directing activities of the Illinois tollway.

Madigan also said she wanted the court to prevent Blagojevich from directing the activities of the Illinois Finance Authority, an agency caught up in a funding controversy with Tribune Co. Blagojevich allegedly threatened to withhold state financing to Tribune Co. for assistance with Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, unless the Chicago Tribune newspaper fired critical editorial board writers. The writers are still on duty.

Further, Madigan called on the court to stop Blagojevich from spending state funds and give the authority to Quinn.

Madigan's motion is untested in the state's history. The case could determine whether the governor is fit to serve.

...

I don't know much about Illinois law, but this case seems improbable since the state constitutions probably sets out the procedures for removing the governor and it would appear what she is asking would short circuit the legislative process. It may be just another attempt to put pressure on Blagojevich to resign. But, that resignation letter is something he would want to bargain for with Fitzgerald. It is not quite "golden" but it is all he has at this point.

The Tribune also reports that Blagljevich's chief of staff, John Harris, has resigned. I would not be surprised to hear he is in talks with the prosecutors.

technorati tags:
political news | news | world news
More at: News 2 Cromley