Prosecutor: Blago Has No 'Right to Be Governor'

The Illinois House prosecutor gave a forceful rebuttal today to Rod Blagojevich’s closing speech, in the last act of the governor’s impeachment trial before the state Senate deliberates on his fate, the Chicago Tribune reports. “He doesn’t have a constitutional right to be governor,” David Ellis said. “It is a privilege. And he has forfeit that privilege.”

“He could have faced my questions, he could have faced your questions,” Ellis said in blasting Blagojevich’s refusal to cooperate. “He talked more about the evidence with Barbara Walters on The View than he did in this chamber.” Ellis also attacked Blagojevich’s claim that he stood fast by his constituency. “When the camera’s on, the governor is for the little guy,” Ellis said. “When the camera’s off, what are his priorities? Legal, personal, political. Nothing in that statement about the people of Illinois.” (More Rod Blagojevich stories.)