SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Senate approved has established the Special Committee on Impeachment Procedures in order to direct the possible impeachment trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) will serve as one of the nine senators who will establish the rules in the event that the Illinois Senate is required to conduct a trial. Senate Resolution comes as a follow up because the Illinois House of Representatives has already established an investigative committee to examine if there is sufficient evidence to begin the impeachment process.

“It has been 175 years since the Illinois Senate conducted an impeachment trial and it is important that we establish rules that are both fair and impartial to maintain the integrity of the process,” Rutherford said. “It has been 11 years since the last impeachment investigation committee was formed and was for a Supreme Court Justice.”

Senator Rutherford is the only current member of the Illinois Senate to have served on the impeachment investigation committee from 1997. At that time, Rutherford was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

The Senate Special Committee on Impeachment Procedures has already begun their work to prepare for the possible trial of Governor Blagojevich. “The House of Representatives determine if there is enough evidence to conduct a trial, it will be up to the Senate to act as the jury and decide on any possible punishment,” Rutherford concluded. “We will take our responsibility very seriously in the Senate, if we are called to conduct the trial.”