SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois House voted 113-0 on Monday evening to begin impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod Blagojevich by creating an investigations committee to consider allegations that the two-term Democrat abused his office and may have participated in criminal activity.

But the Democrats who control the House decided against immediately considering a plan to strip the governor of his power to appoint a successor to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. They adjourned until Jan. 12, without advancing a plan to hold a special election to fill the Senate seat.

On Monday, House Speaker Michael Madigan appointed a bipartisan committee to review potential impeachment proceedings.

"We're going to proceed with all due speed, but we're going to make sure that what we do is done correctly," said Madigan, a Chicago Democrat and former co-chairman of Blagojevich's reelection campaign who has become one of his fiercest critics.

Amid the developments, Obama announced that a review by his own lawyer shows he had no direct contact with the governor about the appointment of a replacement for his Senate seat, and transition aides "did nothing inappropriate."

Controversy has swirled around Obama and his incoming White House chief of staff, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, following Blagojevich's arrest last week on charges he schemed to trade Obama's Senate seat for personal gain.

A Blagojevich spokesman said Monday that the governor has not ruled out signing a bill to hold a special election to fill the seat. That was the first hint the embattled governor may loosen his grip on the position.

Obama, fielding questions at a news conference in Chicago, sidestepped when asked whether Emanuel had spoken with aides to the governor. He said the results of the investigation by his incoming White House counsel, Gregory Craig, would be released "in due course."

"I would ask for your patience because I do not want to interfere with an ongoing investigation," Obama said.

The vote to start an impeachment investigation came six days after Blagojevich was arrested at his home on federal charges that included allegedly trying to peddle the vacant Senate seat.

But Democrats, fearful they might lose the Senate seat if it was put up for a vote, essentially stalled talk of a special election. They cited concerns about the multimillion-dollar cost of holding the election with state finances in shambles. The lack of action means that Blagojevich still retains the power to appoint Obama's successor.

Democrats said the assurances of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada that a Blagojevich appointee would not be seated by the Senate helped encourage them not to change current law that gives the governor the appointment power.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.