Through his lawyer, Blagojevich (above) has denied doing anything wrong and shown no willingness to resign his post. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO - ILLINOIS lawmakers on Monday approved an inquiry into whether Governor Rod Blagojevich should be impeached in the wake of charges he tried to sell the US Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
The Illinois House of Representatives voted 113-0 to form a committee to determine whether that body should bring as yet undefined charges against him, which if approved would result in a trial in the state Senate and his possible removal from office.
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan - like Mr Obama and Blagojevich a Democrat - told reporters in Springfield, the state capital, the charges might include 'abuse of power'.
'We are preparing for a trial in the (state) Senate' and will move with 'all due speed,' he said, although he added the inquiry could take weeks.
Blagojevich was silent about his plans, going to work again at his Chicago office and signing several bills despite demands that he resign - and not make a Senate appointment.
Through his lawyer, Blagojevich has denied doing anything wrong and shown no willingness to resign his US$177,000-a-year post. The governor, 52, is accused of conspiracy to commit fraud and solicitation of bribes, based on conversations recorded on court-approved wiretaps.
Under current law, Blagojevich, whom federal prosecutors arrested last week, and charged with attempting to swap the Senate seat and political favours for cash and jobs, has sole power to fill US Senate vacancies.
The Democratic-led House shelved a bill, backed by Republicans, to hold a special election in April to elect a new senator to replace Obama. The body then adjourned until Jan 12, leaving the 21-member impeachment committee to meet through the holidays, if necessary.
Jockeying for the Senate seat has taken on partisan overtones as Republicans see the election as an opening to flip a seat that had been expected to remain in Democratic hands.
Republicans objected vociferously to the move to postpone consideration of the election, with state Representative William Black decrying it as 'chicanery'.
Democrats will hold 57 of the US 100 Senate seats, with the Illinois seat vacant and the outcome of a Republican-held Minnesota Senate race still undecided.
Lt Gov Pat Quinn, a Democrat who would take over as governor if Blagojevich is removed, has offered several approaches to the Senate vacancy but said he would like to appoint a new senator as soon as possible, regardless of whether there is a special election.
Obama again denies role Mr Obama's office issued a statement saying its review of contacts with Blagojevich confirmed that Mr Obama had no direct communication with the governor and that Mr Obama's advisers did not have 'inappropriate' discussions with the governor's staff about filling the seat.
The US attorney's office in Chicago said it asked for a delay in public release of the review's results so it could conduct interviews. The results will be released next week, Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said.
'There is nothing in the review that was presented to me that in any way contradicted my earlier statements that this appalling set of circumstances that we've seen arise had anything to do with my office,' Mr Obama told a news conference.
The controversy has been a distraction for Mr Obama and his team as he announces Cabinet nominations and tries to lay out plans for dealing with the recession and other crises once he becomes president on Jan 20.
In the FBI affidavit recounting the charges against the governor, Blagojevich was overheard cursing with frustration that the Obama team would offer him only 'appreciation' for naming a particular candidate to the Senate seat. Earlier, Blagojevich is quoted as saying he hoped to use his leverage to obtain an ambassadorship, a Cabinet post or a well-paid job.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of the House speaker and a potential candidate for governor in 2010, asked the state Supreme Court on Friday to remove Blagojevich from office on the grounds he was 'disabled' and had paralysed state government.
Ms Lisa Madigan and other Illinois officials said on Monday a US$1.4 billion (S$2.1 billion) debt issue that was delayed last week would go ahead on Tuesday, after warning that a US$4.5 billion backlog of unpaid bills was mounting and could halt food service to state prisons, close nursing homes and prevent state police from buying gas.
Blagojevich also spent time huddling with noted Chicago defence attorney Edward Genson.
A spokesman has said the governor intends to speak out but would not say when. -- REUTERS
