Blagojevich Lawyer Drafts Suit Challenging Impeachment Trial Rules
Lawyers for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are preparing a possible lawsuit to challenge procedures being used in his upcoming impeachment trial. But it may never be filed.
On Thursday, lawyer Samuel Adam said he and his client were considering whether to file the suit, the Associated Press reports, but another lawyer, Edward Genson, told the Chicago Tribune in a story published today that there would be no suit.
Adam called prior House proceedings a “mockery of the Constitution” in an outline of possible lawsuit arguments provided to the Associated Press. Adam says Blagojevich lawyers were not permitted to cross-examine witnesses in the House, but now the earlier witness testimony may be introduced during the Senate trial.
Senate rules also bar testimony if it would interfere with the federal criminal prosecution of the governor, who has been accused of trying to sell the Senate seat once held by Barack Obama, the AP story says. Blagojevich told the Tribune he would like to call White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to testify. Emanuel is named in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich, but the aide has said nothing inappropriate was said in conversations about the Senate seat, the Daily Herald says.
Adam said at a news conference with Blagojevich on Thursday that no decision had been made on whether to file the suit, the AP story says. Blagojevich said he won’t defend himself in the proceedings without a rules change.
“Give me a right to call witnesses, give me a right to subpoena witnesses and documents, to properly prepare a case–and I’ll be the first one there,” Blagojevich said.
