I am just loving these updates. Illinois State Representative John Fritchey (D) (from Blagojevich’s home district), head of the State House Judiciary committee, said impeachment proceedings will begin immediately. I had said in the comments to the previous thread that Blago should be impeached and removed from office immediately since he was unlikely to resign.
Meanwhile, some local Chicago TV Stations are reporiting that Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel went to US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and told him what was happening and asked that the arrest be expedited.
I think it all makes sense now. Remember when it was leaked that Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett was being considered, and then she took her name out of the running, and then was named as an senior advisor to the White House? Team Obama and Jarrett undoubtedly refused to play Blago’s game by appointing Blago to something or giving him money. The sudden speed with which this has occurred would indicate that there may have been some external pressure by the likes of Rahm Emanuel to make a move before Blago had a chance to appoint a tainted Senatorial replacement.
CONATY: We did receive a tip this morning that perhaps all of this came together so quickly because the Governor may have reached out to Rahm Emanuel, the president-elect’s chief of staff, in attempting to leverage filling the Senate seat. And it may have been Rahm Emanuel who tipped the scale and made this move as quickly as it did.