Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Chicago Tribune:

Blagojevich oversees Senate swearing-in as impeachment trial looms

SPRINGFIELD—Gov. Rod Blagojevich today made his first appearance at the Capitol since his arrest last month on federal corruption charges, overseeing the swearing-in of a Senate that will judge him at his pending impeachment trial.

It’s a day full of political theater, but one with real consequences amid the show.

Before the swearing-in, the governor waited in a room behind the Senate. He shook hands with several folks gathered in the hall, which was partially roped off to reporters.

“Hi guys,” Blagojevich said to reporters standing by a stairwell.

Then Blagojevich gaveled the Senate to order and introduced the justices on the Illinois Supreme Court. Then he welcomed the statewide officers who were there: potential succcessor Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. All have been critical of Blagojevich, calling on him to resign. Blagojevich also introduced former Gov. Jim Thompson, whose law firm was paid for legal work by the governor’s campaign fund until the two parted ways last year. Blagojevich clapped along with senators while making the introductions.

The swearing-in took place, then Blagojevich had to recall the appellate judge who did the swearing-in honors back for Sen. Louis Viverito (D-Burbank), who was skipped the first go-around. Blagojevich joked that “the whole country knows you now,” a reference to the national media present, some carrying the event live.

Viverito said he got stuck on an elevator. “The elevator broke, and we were on there for 45 minutes… It was hotter than hell,” he said.

It’s all been very official and ceremonial so far.

And it all plays out following Blagojevich’s Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges for allegedly trying to trade on his office for personal and political profit, including naming a U.S. senator. His arrest spurred the House to move forward with his impeachment. Conviction in a Senate trial could mean Blagojevich’s removal from office.

Blagojevich says he is innocent of the criminal charges. He called the House impeachment politically motivated, and said he looks forward to a fair hearing at the Senate trial.

A new Senate president was chosen: Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago). He was nominated by Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville), who lost a battle for Senate president to Cullerton.

In nominating Cullerton, relative newcomer Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) mentioned that Cullerton, with a legal background and legislative experience, is the right person to lead the Senate the time of a critical impeachment trial.

As Steans spoke, Blagojevich flipped through the pages of a loose-leaf notebook with instructions. He put his hands together after Steans’ speech, but did not clap along with everyone else. Instead, he briefly rubbed his hands together.

State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) symbolically nominated Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) for Senate president, but she’ll end up the minority leader—Democrats hold 37 votes to the GOP’s 22 in the chamber. Radogno is the first woman to lead one of the four legislative caucuses.

In a display of bipartisanship, Murphy called Cullerton “a genuinely decent man.”

During the roll call, Cullerton drew laughs and applause by voting for his opponent, Radogno, for Senate president. Radogno then returned the favor. “We’re off to a good start. I vote Cullerton,” she said.

Cullerton soon will swear in the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Thomas Fitzgerald, as presiding officer over Blagojevich’s impeachment trial. The senators will be sworn in as jurors under oath by the Senate secretary.

The Senate plans to dispense with its honor of designating senators to serve as a committee to escort the governor out of the ornate legislative chambers. Senate leaders plan to direct the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms to deliver to Blagojevich a summons directing him and his lawyers to respond to the article of impeachment filed by the House.

Across town at the University of Illinois-Springfield, a new Illinois House was sworn in today. The father of House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego led the invocation.

House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie nominated House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago) for another term leading the Democratic-controlled chamber. Currie, who led the House impeachment committee that began the political indictment of Gov. Blagojevich, touted Madigan’s record of standing up against governors from James R. Thompson to Blagojevich.

Currie said Madigan is the one man who “has shown he has the capacity to chart a course out of the morasse” that state government is in.

Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville), in nominating Cross to head the House GOP, also paid a compliment to Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White for his actions during the controversy over Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate.

White refused to sign Blagojevich’s appointment of Burris, saying he wouldn’t put his signature on any Senate appointee from the scandal-tarnished governor.

“The last few days, sir, you have been a profile in courage,” Black said.

White is at the House swearing-in, officiating the ceremony.

The House voted to keep Michael Madigan, the veteran Southwest Side lawmaker, as speaker. Madigan has held the top legislative post since 1983, which the exception of two years when Republicans won a majority in the chamber in the mid-1990s. Cross, the Republican nominee for speaker, was re-elected as House minority leader.

One of the chamber’s first acts will be to revote the 13-point article of impeachment it voted 114-1 on Friday, with one member voting present. The new vote is a technicality caused by the inauguration of the General Assembly, which reflects changes in members as a result of the Nov. 4 general election.

The Senate rules for conducting the impeachment trial, scheduled to begin in earnest Jan. 26, will sharply limit Blagojevich’s ability to try to sway senators.