Illinois senate votes to oust Governor Blagojevich

Illinois senators stripped Gov. Rod Blagojevich of power Thursday in the final act of a political drama that handed the reins of state government to his estranged lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, and likely will end Blagojevich's career in politics.

More than two-thirds of the 59 senators, acting as a jury following the two-term Democrat's impeachment on Jan. 9, voted to find him guilty, effectively ousting him from office.

The vote was televised live from the state capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. Blagojevich is the first governor in Illinois history to be impeached and removed from office.

The outcome was never in doubt. In fact, Quinn went to the state Capitol earlier in the day to prepare to be sworn in.

Earlier today, in a long-shot attempt to save his job, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted Thursday he had done nothing wrong and shouldn't be removed from office over unproven criminal charges and complaints about his management decisions.

"You haven't proved a crime, and you can't because it didn't happen,How can you throw a governor out of office with insufficient and incomplete evidence?" Blagojevich said

Blagojevich acknowledged he sometimes mingled campaign fundraising with government decisions or cut administrative corners to achieve his goals. But he maintained his motivation was always to help constituents.

The plea did not appear to move lawmakers. After a lunch break, senator after senator stood up and declared Blagojevich unfit to hold office as they prepared for the historic vote on whether to toss him out.

"The whole world is watching Illinois today, and you know what? I'm tired of it," said Democratic Sen. Terry Link of the Chicago suburb of Waukegan. "You don't know whether to get angry or cry because we've been duped again. You were with the last governor, and we were with this governor," he said, pointing first to Republicans and then to his fellow Democrats.

The governor said he would like to apologize, but couldn't because he didn't do anything wrong. The senators watched attentively. Many leaned forward in their seats. Some took notes.

"It's painful and it's lonely, but I want you to know I never, ever intended to commit a criminal act," Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich acknowledged that the truth about his conduct is "maybe not flattering in some cases," referring to several secretly recorded conversations played earlier in the trial.

The FBI wiretaps appear to show Blagojevich linking his decision on legislation to receiving campaign contributions.

Blagojevich told the state Senate the tapes captured something that "all of us in politics do in order to run campaigns and win elections."

Blagojevich, 52, was arrested last month on a variety of federal corruption charges, including scheming to benefit from appointing Obama's Senate replacement and demanding campaign contributions in exchange for state services.

He was impeached in the House on Jan. 9 for abuse of power. The 13 accusations included plotting to give financial assistance to the Tribune Co. only if members of the Chicago Tribune editorial board were fired, awarding state contracts or permits in exchange for campaign

Biographical information on Blagojevich

NAME — Rod R. Blagojevich.

AGE — 52. Born Dec. 10, 1956.

HOME — Chicago.

FAMILY — Wife, Patricia; two daughters.

EDUCATION — Northwestern University, graduated 1979; Pepperdine University, law degree, 1983.

EXPERIENCE — Elected Illinois governor, 2002; re-elected, 2006; ousted by state Senate, 2009. Served in U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 5th district, 1997-2003. Served in Illinois House from Chicago's North Side, 1993-1997. Assistant Cook County state's attorney, prosecuting criminal cases.

QUOTE — "I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly. I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful."