This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7859588.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Illinois governor guilty of abuse | Illinois governor guilty of abuse |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been ousted from office after being convicted of abusing his powers. | Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been ousted from office after being convicted of abusing his powers. |
| Senators voted 59-0 against him after an impeachment hearing, despite his claim that he had "done nothing wrong" and there was no evidence of a crime. | |
| He was charged with trying to sell the seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president. | He was charged with trying to sell the seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president. |
| In a second vote, Mr Blagojevich was banned from holding public office in Illinois for life. | In a second vote, Mr Blagojevich was banned from holding public office in Illinois for life. |
| He had been arrested in December and faces a criminal trial over bribes allegedly taken during his two terms. | He had been arrested in December and faces a criminal trial over bribes allegedly taken during his two terms. |
| No other Illinois governor has been impeached, let alone convicted in a Senate trial. | No other Illinois governor has been impeached, let alone convicted in a Senate trial. |
| Mr Blagojevich has now been replaced as governor by Patrick Quinn, a fellow Democrat and the state's lieutenant governor. | |
| After being sworn in, Mr Quinn told the senate "the ordeal is over". | |
| He said the elected representatives had "reflected the will of the people". | |
| "Now it's our job to call upon the people of Illinois to make the sacrifices necessary to address the serious challenges we have before us," Mr Quinn said. | |
| 'No evidence' | |
| In a last-minute bid to save his position, Mr Blagojevich addressed his trial on Thursday, having earlier said he would not take any part. | In a last-minute bid to save his position, Mr Blagojevich addressed his trial on Thursday, having earlier said he would not take any part. |
| If I thought I had done something wrong I would have resigned in December Rod Blagojevich | If I thought I had done something wrong I would have resigned in December Rod Blagojevich |
| He told senators: "There is no evidence that shows there was any wrongdoing by me as governor." | He told senators: "There is no evidence that shows there was any wrongdoing by me as governor." |
| He expressed annoyance that he was not able to bring his own witnesses. | He expressed annoyance that he was not able to bring his own witnesses. |
| He said President Barack Obama's chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel was one witness he would have liked to question, but rules prevented him from doing so. | He said President Barack Obama's chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel was one witness he would have liked to question, but rules prevented him from doing so. |
| He appealed to senators, at the end of the four-day trial, to consider his position, saying: "Think if you were innocent and rushed out of office. | He appealed to senators, at the end of the four-day trial, to consider his position, saying: "Think if you were innocent and rushed out of office. |
| "A crime has not been proven. How can you throw a governor out of office with incomplete evidence?" | "A crime has not been proven. How can you throw a governor out of office with incomplete evidence?" |
| But his speech appeared to have little effect on the senators. | |
| "I sort of looked at him as a magician and we've all been wowed. But all the magic is gone," one senator told the Chicago Tribune. | |
| "I am immune to his speech giving, because we've seen those tricks before. He can look sincere, he gives a good speech and he's a good performer. Perhaps he can get a job in the arts," she said. | |
| FBI evidence | |
| Since Mr Blagojevich was arrested last month, he has persistently denied the charges against him and has refused to resign. | Since Mr Blagojevich was arrested last month, he has persistently denied the charges against him and has refused to resign. |
| CHARGES AGAINST BLAGOJEVICH Federal agents say Mr Blagojevich Tried to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actionsTried to use state funds for the private purpose of inducing the Tribune Company to fire Chicago Tribune editorial board members critical of himTried to obtain personal financial benefits for himself in return for his appointment of a US senator Profile: Rod BlagojevichQ&A: The Blagojevich scandal There is no trial date set in the criminal case. | CHARGES AGAINST BLAGOJEVICH Federal agents say Mr Blagojevich Tried to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actionsTried to use state funds for the private purpose of inducing the Tribune Company to fire Chicago Tribune editorial board members critical of himTried to obtain personal financial benefits for himself in return for his appointment of a US senator Profile: Rod BlagojevichQ&A: The Blagojevich scandal There is no trial date set in the criminal case. |
| "If I thought I had done something wrong I would have resigned in December," he told senators. | "If I thought I had done something wrong I would have resigned in December," he told senators. |
| "I didn't resign then and I'm not resigning now because I have done nothing wrong." | "I didn't resign then and I'm not resigning now because I have done nothing wrong." |
| He says he is the victim of a political vendetta. | He says he is the victim of a political vendetta. |
| Impeachment prosecutor David Ellis, in his rebuttal, emphasised that Mr Blagojevich had refused to appear under oath to answer questions, opting instead to make a closing speech. | Impeachment prosecutor David Ellis, in his rebuttal, emphasised that Mr Blagojevich had refused to appear under oath to answer questions, opting instead to make a closing speech. |
| In his closing remarks, Mr Ellis said: "The evidence showed that throughout his tenure as governor, the governor has abused the power of his office and put his own interest above the interest of the people." | In his closing remarks, Mr Ellis said: "The evidence showed that throughout his tenure as governor, the governor has abused the power of his office and put his own interest above the interest of the people." |
| The impeachment followed an investigation by a 21-member committee of Illinois legislators, which looked at testimony from FBI agents who wiretapped phone calls to and from the governor's office about who should fill President Obama's seat. | The impeachment followed an investigation by a 21-member committee of Illinois legislators, which looked at testimony from FBI agents who wiretapped phone calls to and from the governor's office about who should fill President Obama's seat. |
| It is alleged the conversations show that Mr Blagojevich was trying to use the seat to get himself or his wife a job. | It is alleged the conversations show that Mr Blagojevich was trying to use the seat to get himself or his wife a job. |
| Are you in Illinois? What is your reaction to the vote? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Illinois? What is your reaction to the vote? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |