Blagojevich's impeachment trial begins over Obama seat

The impeachment trial of governor Rod Blagojevich began in the Illinois state Senate, in the absence of the defiant defendant, who is in New York appearing on a series of television interviews crying foul and proclaiming his innocence.

Chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court Thomas Fitzgerald began the trial in Springfield and told senators that "This is a solemn and serious business".

It would take a two-thirds vote in the 59-member Illinois Senate to convict Blagojevich and remove him from the office. The vote could also bar him from holding the office ever again.

Blagojevich has been accused of trying to sell the senate seat vacated by the US president Barack Obama and faces charges of corruption and malpractices.

He, however, boycotted the trial and instead launched a media blitzkrieg in New York, giving interviews throughout the day on shows, including ABC's Good Morning America, The View and CNN's Larry King Live.

Terming the senate trial a sham, Blagojevich said he would not participate in the impeachment trial as it was not fair and did not give him a chance to bring witnesses.

"I am here in New York because I cannot get a fair hearing in Illinois, the state Senate in Illinois," Blagojevich said in between TV appearances.

"They have decided, with rules that are fixed, that do not allow me as a governor the right to be able to bring in witnesses to prove that I have done nothing wrong."

In an interview to NBC's Today Show, Blagojevich said, "It is a kangaroo court, and they have decided essentially to do a hanging without even a fair trial." 

"I would like to say to the Senate leadership - Give us a chance to challenge the charges. Give me a chance to call in witnesses, like Rahm Emanuel, the president's chief of staff, who said there was nothing inappropriate in his conversations with me. Give me a chance to bring in Valerie Jarrett, a high-ranking member of  the Obama administration.

"Give me a chance to bring in Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr, all of whom have talked to the FBI and have said there was nothing inappropriate in their relationships with me," the defiant governor said.

He reiterated that he has done nothing wrong and "if I did something wrong, I would have resigned." 

Blagojevich said he was a victim of vengeful lawmakers eager to throw him out of office so they can raise taxes. In another interview to ABC, the governor said he had considered naming Oprah Winfrey to the Senate seat, vacated by Obama. The idea of nominating Winfrey came to him as he explored potential candidates for the job.

"She seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become president," Blagojevich said. 

"She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators". But "worried that the appointment of Winfrey might come across as a gimmick and the talk show host was unlikely to accept", Blagojevich appointed former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to the vacant seat. 

Winfrey, meanwhile, said she was amused by Blagojevich's revelation and would have turned him down. The Illinois House of Representatives had impeached Blagojevich earlier this month citing 13 charges, ranging from trying to sell the Senate seat to trading official acts and appointments for campaign cash.