Durbin to Blago: Search Your Heart… Resign

Below is Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) letter to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) that calls on him to resign.

Durbin said that the corruption charges that the governor faces calls into question his ability to remain in office. Durbin also notes that Illinois legislators have already started work on impeaching Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama.

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

I am writing to ask you to step down as Governor of Illinois. Beyond guilt or innocence, the charges against you raise serious questions about your ability to carry out your duties as chief executive of our state.

I also ask you not to appoint the next United States Senator from Illinois. Because of the nature of the charges against you, no matter whom you were to select, that individual would be under a cloud of suspicion. That would not serve our state, our nation, or the United States Senate.

Legislative efforts to impeach you or remove your ability to appoint the replacement for the United States Senate have been initiated but those options could take some time accomplish. I urge you to choose the path that will be the most beneficial for the people of Illinois and the nation, and resign immediately.

At this moment, I am the only United State Senator from Illinois and within weeks we will begin the next Congress facing unprecedented challenges. Illinois should not be underrepresented in the Senate during this critical time in our history.

I urge you to search your heart and summon the strength to put your state and your nation above any personal considerations.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin