The Illinois State Senate has voted to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. The vote was 59-0, Blagojevich is the first U.S. governor to removed from office in 21 years.
Blagojevich Is Removed From Office by Unanimous Vote
Senators Block Ex-Governor From Future Elected Posts in Illinois
By: Douglas Belkin and Davis Kesmodel, Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Rod Blagojevich became the first U.S. governor in 21 years to be removed from office in a vote by state lawmakers Thursday, two months after he was led from his home in handcuffs by federal authorities on suspicion of influence peddling.
The 59 Illinois senators voted unanimously to oust Mr. Blagojevich. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald declared the two-term Democrat “convicted” shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday.
The senate then voted unanimously to bar Mr. Blagojevich from ever holding political office again in Illinois.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn automatically became the new governor.