Panel poised to back Blagojevich impeachment vote

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A draft report from the Illinois House panel investigating Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich) calls for the full chamber to vote on whether to impeach him.

The impeachment committee could vote to accept the report this afternoon. That would probably be followed by a full House vote on the issue on Friday.

No Illinois governor has ever been impeached.

The draft report was released Thursday morning by the impeachment review committee.

It doesn't include a formal article of impeachment laying out the charges against Blagojevich. That could be written separately.

But the report does conclude there's cause to believe the Democratic governor abused his power and engaged in pay-to-play politics.

Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.