Hoffman is on board for impeachment:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Collinsville – a close friend and the arguably top legislative ally to Gov. Rod Blagojevich – confirmed today that he intends to vote for an impeachment resolution expected Friday.
“I can’t imagine how he can provide the type of leadership that is necessary for us to address the issues” facing the state, Hoffman said in a conversation outside the House chambers this morning. “I’ll be voting tomorrow to move forward with the process and impeach the governor.”
Hoffman, a former Blagojevich roommate and unofficial advisor, has been a vehement supporter, at times shouting down House colleagues in heated floor debate as the only voice in defense of the Democratic governor.
Today, though, Hoffman spoke in somber tones, saying he is “disappointed” at the controversy that has engulfed Illinois since Blagojevich’s Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges, and the resulting impeachment proceedings.
Hoffman said he hasn’t spoken to Blagojevich since the arrest. While he didn’t comment directly on the charges against Blagojevich (including the allegation that he attempted to auction off the U.S. Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama), he said the situation has made governing impossible. “If it were me, I would have resigned,” Hoffman said.
I don’t find this particularly surprising given his comments soon after the arrest. It’s interesting that they haven’t spoken. They are were close and if they aren’t talking, Rod is truly as isolated as I’ve been hearing. Hoffman is the guy I would have said was who needed to go to the Governor to tell him it’s over. Apparently that isn’t even a possibility.
Via Rich
Is there anyone in the State who can be the Barry Goldwater of this mess, the one who goes to the Governor as Goldwater did to Nixon and said, “you need to go.”
If there was anyone, it was Jay. That they haven’t talked is pretty amazing.
And actually evidence we need to speed this up. I think the Governor is dangerously isolated from his staff from what I can tell and is literally holed up with a small number of sycophants. Okay–even smaller than usual.
Ouch. Really, ouch.