Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich couldn't make it to his impeachment trial in Springfield today. He was too busy with his Imploding Tour by making the media rounds, including a spot on "The View."
Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune reported on the trial this afternoon:
House prosecutor David Ellis began his opening statements in the impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich shortly before 3 p.m., thanking senators for their role in this "awesome task."
"Thank you for the awesome task that you are undertaking today for, indeed, it is an awesome task,” Ellis said.
“Impeachment and an impeachment trial is not a criminal proceeding. It is not punitive in nature. We are not here today to punish Gov. Blagojevich. The purpose is remedial, to protect the people of this state from the abuses of a public official,” he said.
Blagojevich, Ellis said, “repeatedly and utterly abused the powers and privileges of his office.” He said Blagojevich demonstrated that he was "actively plotting" to enrich himself in carrying out official actions of the state, violating the public trust and his oath of office
Blagojevich can read about the rest of his impeachment trial at the Tribune, which is providing live blog reports.
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