Blagojevich Fails to Respond to Impeachment Charges

David Kesmodel and Douglas Belkin report on the Illinois governor. Gov. Rod Blagojevich failed to respond to impeachment charges ahead of a trial next week in the Illinois state Senate amid speculation his lawyers will go to federal court to try to block the statehouse proceedings. The governor, who was arrested in December on federal corruption charges, missed a Tuesday deadline to file a motion to dismiss the impeachment charges, and a Wednesday deadline to request witnesses, documents or other materials to use in his defense. On Thursday, he blasted the impeachment process in an interview with reporters before his morning jog, the Chicago Tribune reported on its Web site. Blagojevich said the legislature is trying “to thwart the will of the people” by failing to give him “a fair hearing.” He said he hasn’t been given the right to subpoena witnesses in the proceeding, and that his lawyers have chosen not to participate in the proceedings “because they believe, rightfully ... (link)