Illinois AG files motion (with state SC declaring the governor unable to serve)

[sabra]

Source: CNN

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a motion with the Illinois State Supreme Court asking it to declare the governor unable to serve, Madigan spokeswoman Robin Ziegler said Friday.

On Thursday, Madigan had said she was prepared to go to the Illinois Supreme Court to have Blagojevich declared unfit to serve if he does not resign.

“Obviously the easiest way for us to move on in the state of Illinois is for Gov. Blagojevich to do the right thing for the people and to resign,” she said on CNN’s “American Morning.”

She added, “If he fails to, the two other options are obviously the legislature moving forward on impeachment, or I have the opportunity to actually go to our Illinois Supreme Court and ask them to declare, basically, that our governor is unable to serve.”


Read more: http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/12/illinois-ag-files-motion/

[amdezurik]

1. did they think she was kidding?

[maddezmom]

2. MSNBC just said there a rumors that Blago is going to step down

[Connie_Corleone]

3. God, I hope so.

[HopeHoops]

4. Boot the crook - be done with him

[jwirr]

5. Good, we need to appoint the replacement for O as soon as we can.

[aquart]

6. What are the grounds for "unable to serve" and do they apply to the president?

[BlueJessamine]

10. the pending charges and scandal:

CBS 2 Cicago:

The attorney general asked the court for a temporary restraining order or an injunction that prevents Blagojevich from serving as governor. The filing says he is "unable to serve as governor due to disability and should not rightfully continue to hold that office."

"The pervasive nature and severity of these pending charges disable Mr. Blagojevich from making effective decisions on critical, time-sensitive issues," the filing said.

~snip~

It is the first time in Illinois history that such an action was taken. The attorney general is applying a rule that was intended to cover cases where a governor is incapacitated for health reasons. Her motion indicates that his inability to serve because of the scandal is akin to a debilitating health issue.

link:

http://cbs2chicago.com/governor/lisa.madigan.blagojevich.2.885942.html

[marshall]

11. I think she'll have a tough sell on her argument

Perhaps she could call for a leave of absence, but there is still the presumption of innocence and people shouldn't lose their jobs just because allegations are made against them. That is why the Duke lacrosse team and coach are cashing in --they were booted out because of seemingly very credible but ultimately false allegations.

I think the impeachment is an easier direction, but even that will be difficult.

[jfkraus]

7. Ya think?

[BlueJessamine]

8. from CBS 2 Chicago:

CBS 2 has learned that the governor is actively considering resigning from his post, sooner rather than later. But on Thursday night, a spokesman was not saying when that might happen.


And the Chicago Sun-Times reports the following:

John Harris, Gov. Blagojevich's chief of staff, resigns

John Harris, chief of staff to Gov. Blagojevich who was charged along with him in a federal criminal complaint, resigned this morning, the governor's office said.

link:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1328354,john-harris-blagojevich-illinois-governor-121208.article

[Connie_Corleone]

9. Maybe Blago will resign in a few hours...hopefully.