Scandal/impeachment items

Merry Christmas. I hope that I won't continue to do this until impeachment hearing convene again next Monday!

Panel hears Gov. got 435 contributions of $25K, more - Sun-Times

Lisa Madigan denies asking for Senate seat - Tribune

Quinn has Transition Team in Order - CPR

Fundraiser seeks immunity in Blagojevich probe - Tribune

The Illinois Attorney General's Suit To Remove Blagojevich Looks Even Worse In Retrospect - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion

Blagojevich information withheld from impeachment panel - LA Times

As the transition team of President-elect Barack Obama prepared today to release its investigation into staff contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, federal prosecutors asked a state panel to limit its examination of whether to impeach the governor, who faces corruption charges.

In a letter this morning, U. S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald declined to give the committee of the Illinois Legislature any of the information his office has gathered in preparing charges against Blagojevich, arguing that the release could compromise the federal probe.

U.S. Attorney Won’t Assist Blagojevich Impeachment - Bloomberg

Fitzgerald’s office won’t provide affidavits, wiretap applications, fundraising lists or the names of anonymous witnesses, according to a letter released today by the committee. The prosecutor also asked the panel to avoid current and former members of Blagojevich’s staff, as well as fundraisers such as Antoin Rezko, who was convicted in June for seeking millions of dollars in kickbacks.

“Any inquiry into these topics, as well as the taking of testimony from present and former members of the governor’s staff, could significantly compromise the ongoing criminal investigation,” Fitzgerald said in the letter dated yesterday.

Prosecutor limits Blagojevich impeachment probe - PJ Star

At the same time, Fitzgerald said the committee could look into other issues surrounding the administration without jeopardizing the investigation, including expanding health care in defiance of the General Assembly and whether the administration illegally hired and fired some state workers.

Fitzgerald rejected the committee's request for the identities of people listed in a federal affadavit only by code name. He said he will consider the committee's request to turn over tape recordings made of Blagojevich conversations that, among other things, caught him trying to sell the vacant U.S. Senate seat once held by president-elect Barack Obama.

Rich Miller takes a look at what the US Attorney would provide help with or what he won't provide help with.

FriendsofBlago.com - IL GOP

Ald. Manny Flores on Public Affairs talking about the Blagojevich scandal and possible successors to the President-elect's now vacant Senate seat.

Blago catches a teeny break from Fitzgerald, but will it matter? - Greg Hinz

Former Crain's editor will be Lt. Gov. Quinn spokesman - Crain's

Quinn warns Blagojevich impeachment coming - AP