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Ill. House panel recommends governor's impeachment
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-09 10:09

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Illinois House committee has unanimously recommended that Gov. Rod Blagojevich be impeached for abuse of power.

 In this Dec. 19, 2008 file photo, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich addresses reporters during a news conference in Chicago. The Illinois House should impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich for abusing his power, mismanaging Illinois government and committing possible criminal acts, a special committee concluded Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. [Agencies]

The decision sets the stage for the full House to take action Friday and make Blagojevich the first governor impeached in Illinois history.

The 21-member committee began studying impeachment after the Democratic governor was arrested on a variety of federal corruption charges.

The panel based its recommendation on those charges and other allegations of misconduct by Blagojevich. They include evidence he circumvented state hiring laws, misspent tax money and expanded programs without proper authority.

If the House impeaches Blagojevich, the Senate would then conduct a trial on whether he should be removed from office.