Blagojevich impeachment inquiry starts

Illinois lawmakers opened impeachment proceedings against indicted Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on Tuesday, insisting they could fairly investigate him despite years of calling him a terrible leader.

Democrats and Republicans struggled to temper their anger over the national embarrassment created by Blagojevich’s arrest a week ago on corruption charges. He is accused of seeking to sell favorable government decisions and the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

“There are many in this committee and many in this committee room who have been critical of this governor on a number of issues, but this committee must do its deliberations without regard to politics, without regard to differences of public policy and even without regard to whether the governor is competent and whether he’s done his job well,” said Rep. Lou Lang, a Democrat on the House impeachment panel. “It must only be about whether the governor has violated his constitutional oath.”

Blagojevich continued his weeklong silence, but the governor’s criminal defense lawyer planned to represent him today in the committee’s first day of testimony.

Brushing aside repeated calls for his resignation, the Democratic governor signed a bill into law Tuesday and, according to an aide, was reviewing inmate petitions for clemency.

The federal charges represent the most scandalous information to be reviewed by the committee. But with the investigation continuing and the FBI saying it would not aid the impeachment, it is doubtful the criminal charges will play the biggest role.

The panel is expected to base its recommendation largely on actions Blagojevich has taken in the governor’s chair, including allegations of misconduct, abuse of power and failing to follow state law.

Acts include a questionable $1-million grant to a private Chicago school, spending millions of public money on outdated flu vaccines and expanding a healthcare program without legislative approval or the money to pay for it.

In Chicago on Tuesday, Obama refused to take a position on how his Senate seat should be filled. The full Legislature adjourned until mid-January, ending hopes for a law that would require a special election to fill the seat.

Obama also said it was inappropriate to answer questions about any contact between his incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, and the Blagojevich team. Emanuel is reportedly on recordings discussing the seat and recommending names of Senate successors, but without offering inducements to the governor.

Aides to Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said he had met with federal prosecutors “for years” about corruption allegations. But his chief of staff said none of the conversations touched on the investigation of the governor’s alleged attempt to sell the Senate seat.