Impeachment a political process, not a legal proceeding

The impeachment investigation House lawmakers started Tuesday could be seen as the first step toward the inevitable.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces serious federal corruption allegations, and people throughout the state are calling for his ouster. The House voted without opposition to start the unprecedented inquiry.

Many of the members of the committee overseeing the probe have been vocal opponents of the governor over the years, on everything from the state budget and health care to business taxes and a construction program.

But as the committee began its work Tuesday, both Republican and Democrat members insisted this won't be a Blagojevich ambush.

"Frontier justice will not prevail in this proceeding. A rush to judgment does not serve the people well," said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, the committee's chairwoman.

The state Constitution gives the House sole authority to look into and then vote to impeach, and then the Senate sole power to have a trial. So the committee's work will serve as background if senators conduct an impeachment trial, much like a grand jury looking at whether there's enough evidence to support a trial in a criminal case.

But lawmakers and others are quick to note the House investigation isn't a legal proceeding. It's a political process aimed at deciding whether Blagojevich is still able to govern.

"Our determination is not to find the governor guilty. Our task is to determine whether he's capable of leading this state," said Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago.

Kent Redfield, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield, says that creates a different expectation of what's fair as lawmakers begin to grill Blagojevich and his administration in coming weeks.

"This is not about a murder that took place in Chicago or a bank robbery in Cairo. This is about running the state of Illinois," Redfield said. "It's a political decision, a political judgment, and so fair is not really the right term to use."

Lawmakers stress they've not made any decisions about impeachment yet and will do all they can to ensure Blagojevich has a say in the process.

Why? Part of it is because of the precedent they're setting for future legislators and governors. They also want to put together a strong case so the Senate has plenty to consider.

"It's important to the people of Illinois that we establish whatever the truth is. Do it expeditiously, but do it honestly and openly and transparently, give the governor the chance to say what he needs to say at these hearings," said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie.

The committee started that work Tuesday, spending about an hour with opening speeches promising to keep an open mind on impeachment.

The first test will come Wednesday, when Blagojevich lawyer and noted Chicago defense attorney Ed Genson is expected to appear on the governor's behalf. They will talk about the criminal allegations laid out last week by the U.S. attorney's office, as well as plea agreements in two other federal cases tied to the Blagojevich administration.

But already, the committee's probe is expected to weigh many other allegations of abuse of power by the governor -- such as a botched purchase of flu vaccine from overseas, a mistaken state grant given to a Chicago school and scathing audits of several state agencies.

"We're going to go through the evidence, what we think is relevant. Even though the Constitution doesn't give us a lot of guidance, we're going to make a decision to what we think is relevant and important," said Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs.

Lawmakers don't expect Blagojevich to show up personally for the proceedings, but they do expect surrogates to put up a strong fight.

"I think he (Blagojevich) will make allegations and throw a lot against the wall. He's done that in the past," said Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock. "It's not going to be pretty. Democracy rarely is."

Also Tuesday, the state Senate left town after two quiet days in session. Senators approved a new committee to draft rules if impeachment reaches that chamber.

"We have to decide how we should proceed. It's a blank slate," said Sen. John Cullerton, who takes over as Senate president in mid-January.

But, like the House on Monday, the Senate did not vote on creating a special election to fill Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat. Republicans protested that Democrats had changed their mind about a special election to protect the seat from being challenged.

Both chambers are not due back to Springfield until Jan. 12.

Ryan Keith can be reached at (217) 788-1518 or ryan.keith@sj-r.com.

What happened Tuesday:

A newly created committee investigating whether to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich met for the first time. Committee members spoke one-by-one about the somber task ahead of them, and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie sketched out some broad outlines of what the committee's work would involve.

Quote from the Day:

"I do not relish the thought of spending this time during the holiday season for this purpose," --Committee member Rep. Connie Howard, D-Chicago.

What to expect Wednesday:

Blagojevich attorney Edward Genson is expected to appear at the committee hearing. Currie said the panel would talk about the criminal complaint filed last week against the governor. The committee also likely will adopt its operational rules.

How to follow the hearing: The special committee on impeachment resumes at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) in Room 114 of the Illinois State Capitol. The proceedings are being Webcast at the General Assembly's Web site at www.ilga.gov. Click on "Special Investigative Committee."

--State Capitol bureau