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Genson said it would be "frankly illegal" for the committee to base an impeachment recommendation on the corruption case against Blagojevich. The criminal complaint doesn't provide full conversations and context, he said, and it can't be cross-examined like a witness. The complaint says prosecutors have Blagojevich on tape talking about bartering Obama's seat for personal gain, but Genson told the panel the words do not amount to illegal actions. He called the wiretaps "two months of somebody who obviously likes to talk a lot, but two months of nothing getting done." "There's no evidence that anyone ever asked anybody for anything with regard to that (U.S. Senate) seat," Genson added. Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, challenged Genson to have Blagojevich testify. "If we want the facts, we should have your client here. If you want to get to the facts, let's bring him here, let's ask the questions," Franks said. Genson told the committee that neither the law nor the constitution spell out the standard for impeachment or what evidence should be considered. He also questioned the panel's impartiality. Genson argued that three lawmakers -- Franks and Republicans Bill Black of Danville and Jil Tracy of Mount Sterling
-- should be removed because their opening statements indicate they've made up their minds. Lawmakers rejected all of Genson's complaints, saying the committee has broad power to review anything related to the governor's performance. They said Genson's courtroom-style objections won't change the panel's approach. "He's trying to throw up enough dust ... to make people think the governor is guilty of nothing
-- pure as the new driven snow," Currie, a Chicago Democrat, said afterward. Genson also is asking the Illinois House to appoint and pay for Blagojevich's attorneys in the impeachment matter. That normally would be Madigan's job, he said, but she cannot do it because of her challenge to the state Supreme Court. Madigan's office said it would respond soon to Genson's request.
[Associated Press;
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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