Ill. governor's impeachment trial opens

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-27 10:13

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – US Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial opened on Monday with a vacant chair reserved for the governor, who boycotted the proceedings and instead spent the day on the TV talk-show circuit in New York, complaining he is being railroaded.

A desk in the Illinois Senate chamber where Gov. Blagojevich and his counsel would sit is empty on the first day of the impeachment trial of embattled governor Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, in Springfield, Ill. Blagojevich has chosen not to defend himself during the impeachment trial saying he couldn't get a fair hearing in Illinois. [Agencies]

"The fix is in," Blagojevich declared on ABC's "Good Morning America."

As the Illinois Senate assembled for the first impeachment trial of a U.S. governor in more than 20 years, David Ellis, the House-appointed prosecutor, told the chamber that he will show that Blagojevich "repeatedly and utterly abused the powers and privileges of his office."

In one of his first orders of business, Ellis won approval from the Senate to summon as a witness an FBI agent who oversaw the profanity-laden wiretaps that led to Blagojevich's arrest on corruption charges last month.

With Blagojevich refusing to present a defense, Illinois senators could vote within days on whether to oust the 52-year-old Democrat on a variety of charges, including allegations he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President Barack Obama.

State senators maintained the trial will be fair, despite Blagojevich's attacks on the process.

"We all took an oath to do justice according to the law. I know that everyone is taking the matter seriously and that no one will stand in the way of justice," said Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, a Republican.

In live appearances Monday on "Good Morning America" and "The View," Blagojevich said some of his most inflammatory remarks from the wiretaps had been taken out of context. But when pressed, he would not elaborate, and he insisted he had done nothing illegal.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appears on his first national television appearance with Diane Sawyer, (R), January 26, 2009 on ABC News' Good Morning America, the day his impeachment trial begins in his home state. [Agencies]

In this image released by ABC, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich speaks during an interview with Barbara Walters Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 on 'The View.' The Illinois Senate has convened a historic impeachment trial Monday that will determine whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich is removed from office. Blagojevich is refusing to take part in the trial. He says its rules are so biased that he can't present a defense. [Agencies]

"I'm here in New York because I can't get a fair hearing in Illinois," Blagojevich said between TV appearances.

NBC's "Today" aired a taped interview with Blagojevich. He was also scheduled to appear on "Larry King Live" and ABC's "Nightline" on Monday night and on CBS' "The Early Show" on Tuesday.

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