A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich that sought to overturn a ban on him running for state or local office again. The judge issued a scathing ruling, quoting Dr. Seuss in telling Blagojevich to “go away.” Blagojevich had served nearly eight years of a 14-year prison sentence on corruption charges before his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump in 2020. Following this, he filed a federal lawsuit claiming his removal from office by the Illinois Senate in 2009 was unconstitutional and sought permission to run for elected office in Illinois again.
The judge, U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger, criticized Blagojevich’s lawsuit as being “riddled with problems.” Seeger mentioned that legislatures have the sole authority over impeachment proceedings, and the separation of powers prevents courts from interfering. While some states allow courts to review impeachment proceedings, Seeger stated that Blagojevich provided no reason to believe Illinois would allow judicial review. The judge pointed out that in its 205-year history, the Illinois General Assembly has only impeached, convicted, and removed one public official, which was Blagojevich.
Seeger emphasized that federal courts have no role to play in state impeachment processes and that it is not the place of a federal court to bring back an official removed by a state legislature. Blagojevich’s attempt to challenge his impeachment and seek a return to public office was deemed inappropriate by the judge. The ruling highlighted the lack of case law in Illinois regarding impeachment proceedings, indicating the rarity of such situations in the state’s history.
Blagojevich’s desire to re-enter public life and regain a prominent role in politics was criticized by the judge as being disgraceful. Seeger’s ruling dismissed Blagojevich’s claims as legally unsound and lacking merit. The judge referenced Dr. Seuss in his decision, suggesting that it was time for Blagojevich to accept his removal from office and move on. The ruling serves as a significant setback for Blagojevich’s efforts to challenge his impeachment and seek political office in Illinois again.
Overall, the federal judge’s dismissal of Blagojevich’s lawsuit represents a clear rejection of the former governor’s attempts to reverse the ban on him running for state or local office. The ruling underscores the limitations of federal courts in intervening in state impeachment proceedings and reaffirms the authority of state legislatures in such matters. Blagojevich’s legal battle to overturn his impeachment and return to public office has been dealt a decisive blow with the judge’s ruling, signaling the end of his quest to re-enter the political arena in Illinois.
