Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of selling US Senator seat vacated by President Barack Obama, said on Friday that the move to oust him from office was a plot to raise taxes.
In an interview with a local radio programme, his first extended interview since his December 9 arrest on federal corruption charges, he said "it's all about getting rid of me to raise taxes on people." Both income and sales taxes would be increased by May, he added.
Blagojevich did not address any of the specific charges brought against him. The Governor hinted he might file a lawsuit to block the impeachment trial scheduled to begin on Monday in Springfield, the capital city of Illinois State.
As in his previous public statements, Blagojevich characterised the impeachment process as unconstitutional and unfair and said he was being denied the right to call witnesses who would say that he had not attempted to extort any kind of quid pro quo to win his appointment to the US Senate seat.
Blagojevich was impeached on January 9. The Governor now faces an uphill battle in the Illinois Senate trial that will determine whether he stays in office or gets ousted.