FACTBOX: Illinois' history of government corruption

(Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of abuse of power including an attempt to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevich's impeachment followed the conviction in 2006 of his predecessor, Republican Gov. George Ryan, on multiple counts of conspiracy and fraud.

Following is a list of some other high-profile investigations and convictions in the state:

* Operation Greylord, a federal probe into the Chicago court system, was completed in 1988 with convictions and guilty pleas from 87 court personnel and attorneys, including 13 judges.

* Operation Silver Shovel, a federal probe into Chicago city government, ended in 1996 with 18 convictions and guilty pleas from public employees and six aldermen.

* Illinois Auditor Orville Hodge was convicted in 1956 for embezzling $2 million in state funds.

* Gov. Otto Kerner, a Democrat, was convicted in 1972 on income tax charges involving stock in race tracks acquired while in office.

* Illinois Attorney General William Scott was convicted in 1991 on income tax charges involving misuse of campaign funds.

* U.S. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski, a Democrat, was convicted in 1996 on mail fraud charges related to public corruption.

Source: Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

(Reporting by Karen Pierog, Editing by Peter Bohan and Doina Chiacu)