Durbin Statement on Blagojevich Removal from Office

Statement

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today made the following statement after the Illinois State Senate overwhelmingly voted to remove Governor Rod Blagojevich from office.

"On a cold morning in December, the people of Illinois awakened to find that their Governor had been arrested on charges of trying to sell a Senate seat and to use his public office for personal gain.

"Instead of resigning immediately, Rod Blagojevich put our state through weeks of turmoil at a time when many Illinoisans wanted to share in the joy of having just elected one of our own to the Presidency. Today, the Illinois Senate came to the only reasonable conclusion: Blagojevich can not continue to serve as our Governor.

"It is now time to close this chapter in Illinois history. The State of Illinois is in need of a fresh start. I look forward to working with Governor Pat Quinn to move our state forward.

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