Guilty until proven innocent - 3 grits

This really bothers me.

Blagojevich, IL's illustrious governor, has been impeached, Jan. 9th actually, for crimes he allegedly committed. Him being impeached it what bothers me. I don't personally like what I've seen of him. I mean, have you seen videos of him? Have you read some of the transcripts of his conversations about selling the big O's senatorial seat? He seems to be quite the slimeball.

HOWEVER, because he has not been convicted of anything, I don't think he should have been impeached. Let the Lt. Guv take over until it's done with, sure, but don't toss the guy out before due process of law has taken place. It's kind of scary because it opens the door to other governors being taken down because someone didn't like what they were doing/saying/spending.

I'm editing this post to include a (much more thought out reaction than mine) response. Just in case you don't read the comments. I feel this comment includes a lot more info than I presented and provides a complete thought. And that's what I get for posting without doing research. :) I've always been a little more into sci fi than poli sci anyway.
Thanks, Charlotte.

"I have been thinking about this a couple days and I have to disagree with you. Impeachment is a completely separate entity from legal proceedings.

Impeachment is the legislative branch's equivalent of making formal charges against a government official. Once an official is impeached, the legislature can exam the evidence and come to a conclusion of his guilt and need to remain in office (acquitted) or be removed (convicted). It doesn't matter if the official has charges pending or has been convicted or has yet to have charges filed. In fact President Nixon resigned before he could be impeached and President Clinton was impeached, didn't get enough "conviction" votes after the evidence was examined to have him removed from office.

By evoking the "guilty until proven innocent" part of our constitution you have mixed our judicial system with our legislative system. Impeachment is a legislative checks and balance and is not related to the judicial system's due process of law (although most impeachments are based on indictable offenses).

I don't know how Illinois handles their impeachment in their constitution, but I'm sure it is similar to the US Constitution's system. Also I am unsure where in the process they are- if at impeachment phases or conviction phases, but it behooves them to move quickly and the constitution is in no way overrun by what they are doing. In fact, they are specifically given the right to do so. "