Illinois Senate: Blago out

The Illinois State Senate has formally impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Though he has not been formally convicted in a criminal court, the evidence against his wrongdoings is strong.

The Senate voted 59-0 to remove him from office and to ban him from office in the future. Blagojevich was immediately replaced by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. 

Blago makes his case

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is set to defend himself against impeachment this morning. All eyes are on Springfield, Ill., where he will testify.

Update: All the action has gone down and the Chicago papers are all over it. In the most basic of terms, Blagojevich said he has "done absolutely nothing wrong" and in all this non-wrong doing "never, ever intended to violate the law," according to reports from the Chicago Tribune.