Leahy, Sanders, Other Senators
Insist That Blagojevich Resign
WASHINGTON, December 10 – U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy
and Bernie Sanders of Vermont today called for the resignation of
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich one day after he was arrested and
accused of putting President-elect Barack Obama’s former United
States Senate seat up for sale.
The Vermont senators signed a letter also warning
Blagojevich not to exercise his power to name Obama’s Senate successor,
saying that could trigger a provision in the U.S. Constitution that lets
the Senate refuse to seat a member.
The senators’ letter to Blagojevich says:
“We write to insist that you step down as governor of
Illinois
and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant
Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged
federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment
by you would raise serious questions.
“It is within the authority of the
Illinois
legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing
for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step
aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most
expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner
that would earn the confidence of the people of
Illinois
and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be
seated as soon as possible so that
Illinois
is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th
Congress moves forward.
“Please understand that should you decide to ignore
the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we
would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article
I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.
“We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal
charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest
those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we
implore you refrain from making an appointment to the Senate,” the
letter concluded.
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