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For Immediate Release Springfield, Ill. -- Rep. Jil Tracy did not take it personally when Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attorney asked that she be removed from the special committee considering impeachment. "He's representing his client," Tracy said. "We're representing the people of Illinois." Chicago Attorney Ed Genson singled out Tracy, Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, and Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, as members he wanted off the 21-member committee. Genson argued that their opening statements indicated they are biased against Blagojevich. Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, who is chairman of the committee, said Genson would not get his wish. Tracy, an attorney, later looked over the written text of her own opening statements and was pleased to see nothing that was out of line. "I said that since I began this job I have been dismayed by what I perceived as dysfunction in the executive branch," Tracy said. She also said it would be in the public interest for the governor to resign. But Tracy said several other committee members who called for Blagojevich's resignation were not singled out by Genson. Currie also brushed aside Genson's challenge that it was "frankly illegal" for the committee to consider impeachment based on the 76-page affidavit filed by the FBI in a criminal complaint last week. The affidavit included excerpts of what federal investigators called recorded telephone conversations between Blagojevich and his advisers. Among the excerpts were several comments about securing campaign donations or appointments for Blagojevich or his wife in return for naming a U.S. senator to fill out the unexpired term of President-elect Barack Obama. "There is no evidence that anyone ever asked anybody for anything with regard to that (U.S. Senate) seat," Genson said during Wednesday's committee hearing. Legislators responded that might be why one of the charges against Blagojevich is for conspiracy to solicit a bribe, while he is not charged with accepting a bribe. Currie reminded Genson repeatedly that the committee is investigating impeachment as provided under the Illinois Constitution. Part of what is being considered is whether Blagojevich has abused his power by defying the Legislature, spending money without authorization and withholding public documents in violation of state law. Auditor General William Holland is scheduled to testify for the committee today. Holland is expected to talk about a pair of audits where spending practices by the governor were in violation of state rules. Franks called for Genson to bring Blagojevich to testify before the committee in order to bring out the facts. Genson asked for more time to go over the evidence in the criminal complaint filed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Currie said the committee hearings will not be delayed. Tracy said Genson wanted to delay the hearing until after his court date in mid January. Constitutional language empowers the House to send impeachment cases to the Senate if 60 or more of the 118 House members vote to impeach. The 21-member investigative committee was formed after a 113-0 vote on Monday. It is scheduled to meet daily, except on holidays. Tracy said reports that the committee will dismiss for the weekend or longer, "have not been shared with us."
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