rules of evidence, 36, 71, 108
Ryan, George, 2, 8, 184
Salem Baptist Church, 185
Sangamo Club, 28
scholarly perspective, 50
Scofield, Doug, 126
Scott, Zaldwaynaka “Z,” 78–79, 119
Scully, John, 63–64, 115, 117, 123
security clearance, 180–81
Senate Candidate 1, 126
senate impeachment trial, 98; first day, 113–23; second day, 124–46; third day, 146–59; fourth day (last day), 160–89; additional caucus requested, 181; allegations of criminal activity, 124–46; Blagojevich requests appearance, 152–53, 158–59, 168–70; Blagojevich’s appearance at, 170–74; caucus requested, 177–78; charges, impeachment, 122–23; closing arguments, 162–64; FBI testimony, 113–14, 116–17; final debate, 181–82; governor’s refusal to appear, 115, 116, 123, 152, 191; house members as witnesses, 115, 145–47; impeachment tribunal, 112, 115, 181, 189; inauguration day activities and, 105, 109–10; Kirk-Foster amendment, 117–20; malfeasance charges, 148–49; preparations, 105–12; procedural and historical questions, 150–51; public attendance, 114; Republican concerns, 118–19, 147–48, 151; summary of charges, 116–17; trial rules, 106–7, 115, 118, 162, 182; violations of the constitution, 148–49; vote to impeach, 187–88. See also house impeachment investigation
Senate Resolution (SR) 6, 110
Senate Resolution (SR) 7, 111, 140, 158
Senate Resolution (SR) 966, 106–7
Senate Rules Committee, 157
senate seat, selling of, 80, 82, 121–22, 124–27, 164, 171–72
Service Employees International Union, 126
Shipley, Deb, 104, 112, 115, 162, 188
Smith, Ron, 4
Smith, Theophilus, 4–5, 107–8
Sorosky, Sheldon, 137
Special Investigative Committee, 28, 33–34, 86
special sessions, 3
State Board of Elections, 68
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), 53
state contracts, 84; consultants, 2, 45, 59–60, 132–33, 145, 156–57, 166–67; extortion schemes, 40, 41, 43, 45, 122, 132–33, 144, 165–66; House Bill (HB) 824, 40, 43, 164–65; processing, 27–28; requests for proposals (RFPs), 27, 156; selection committee meetings, 60; sole source awards, 65–66
State Government Administration Committee, 9, 24, 50, 157
Steans, Heather, 142
Stewart, Jay, 62
Stolfi, Andrew, 158, 159
Stroud, Mr., 80, 82
subpoena power, 71, 73–74
Taylor, Keith, 62
Team Services, 60
Theis, Mary Jane, 110
Thirty-Fourth Ward, 15
Thomas, Vicki, 51–52, 57, 115, 149–50
Topinka, Judy Baar, 8
Tracy, Jill, 39
trial rules, senate impeachment, 106–7, 115, 118, 162, 182
Tribune Company, 40, 41, 48, 70, 84, 122, 128–29, 164, 167, 204–5n24
Tusk, Bradley, 23
Ungaretti and Harris, 52
University of Illinois campus, 109, 111
University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs, 30
University of Illinois professors, 30, 50, 58–59, 72–73
Unruh, Julie, 7
US Attorney’s Office, 2–3, 36, 38–40, 42, 121, 124, 171; process of review, 63–64; reluctance to divulge information, 70, 72–73, 113. See also Cain, Daniel; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 23
US Constitution, 4
US criminal code, 40
Vallas, Paul, 80
Vaught, Heather Wier, 120, 151, 179
veterans’ services, 155
Walsh, Tom, 8, 124, 141
Warner, John, 172–73
watchdog groups, 62
Watson, Frank, 17–18, 95, 105, 115, 141, 148, 184–86
welfare fraud, 50–51
WGN television, 7
Wilhelm, David, 144
wiretaps, 40, 43–44, 46–47, 63–64, 187; defense view of, 71–72, 74, 77–78; impeachment resolution and, 87; in senate trial, 113, 116, 121, 138–41; unreleased tapes, 119. See also Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
WLS radio station, 6–7, 116
Wright, Timothy, III, 81
Wrigley Field, 40
WVON radio, 91
Bernard H. Sieracki teaches public administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also teaches at the Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Prior to teaching, Sieracki was an Illinois lobbyist for nearly four decades. He received his PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
“A Just Cause provides a compelling and fascinating account of the impeachment and removal from office of Governor Rod Blagojevich. For those who follow Illinois politics, it is a familiar story; however, Sieracki provides an extraordinary amount of information gleaned from his interviews with numerous players in the drama. Sieracki delves deeply into the sordid history of the Blagojevich era and provides the documentation that federal and state authorities amassed regarding his numerous transgressions. This story should provide, if nothing else, a cautionary tale for other public officials in Illinois and elsewhere who may be tempted by the ‘pay to play’ and ‘culture of corruption’ mentality that has infected Illinois for too many years.”
—John S. Jackson, editor of The Essential Paul Simon: Timeless Lessons for Today’s Politics
“A Just Cause gives the reader an insider’s view of the most dramatic event in Illinois politics in recent memory. The author takes advantage of remarkable access to all of the key figures in the process to present a detailed and compelling account of the why and how of the impeachment of the elected chief executive of the State of Illinois. As both a lesson in ultimate exercise of power within the structure of the American political system and a gripping story of real politics, this is a fascinating and important book.”
—Kent Redfield, University of Illinois Springfield
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