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FBI tapes played for Illinois impeachment trial
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-28 15:32 "I'll respect the law and the Constitution and the rules," he said, "and whether or not there are legal remedies to pursue beyond this we haven't really discussed ... but I'm not going to rule out what some of those options might be." Blagojevich also said he hasn't done anything to prepare state government for the switch to a new governor.
Blagojevich doesn't deny making the comments alleged by federal prosecutors. But he says they were taken out of context and don't amount to anything illegal. "In the end, a lot of it was talk and exploring ideas," Blagojevich said. "I never, ever intended to violate any criminal law." The allegation at the center of the tapes played for senators is that Blagojevich pressured John Johnston, owner of two Chicago-area harness-racing tracks, to donate money by the end of 2008, when a new ethics law would restrict donations. Prosecutors say Blagojevich threatened not to sign legislation giving tracks a portion of casino-generated revenue unless he got the donation. It's not clear whether Johnston ever made a donation; federal prosecutors have seized Blagojevich's campaign records. Johnston has not been charged with any illegal activity. About five minutes of recordings were played Tuesday and represent only a handful of the many made during the federal investigation. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is keeping most of the recordings secret, but permitted senators to hear the material dealing with just the horse track allegation. Several senators said the recordings revealed little they didn't already know, but it was still important to hear them. "I think it kind of grabs you when you hear the voice," said Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. Blagojevich's arrest triggered impeachment proceedings in the Illinois Legislature, where lawmakers have spent six years butting heads with Blagojevich. The House voted 117-1 to impeach Blagojevich - the only "no" came from his sister-in-law - and now the Senate is conducting a trial on whether to remove him. Blagojevich says the trial is meant to get him out of the way so Springfield insiders can raise income taxes. He also says the Senate's trial rules are so biased that he can't present a real defense. Neither the prosecution nor the defense is allowed to summon any witnesses whose testimony might interfere with federal prosecutors' criminal case against Blagojevich, although their public statements could be introduced as evidence. Blagojevich has not asked to call witnesses or present any evidence, and said he does not plan to participate. Senate President John Cullerton says it's not too late for Blagojevich to defend himself at the impeachment trial instead of pleading his case to the media. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald has ordered the trial to go forward as if Blagojevich had entered a not guilty plea. No other Illinois governor has been impeached, let alone convicted in a Senate trial. It would take a two-thirds majority - or 40 of the 59 senators - to remove Blagojevich. The Senate also could bar him from ever again holding office in Illinois. If the Senate votes to oust Blagojevich, Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn would replace him. The outcome of Blagojevich's impeachment trial has no legal impact on a separate criminal case against the governor. No trial date has been set on those charges.
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