Blagojevich won't pick Obama's Senate replacement: lawyer
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | 8:34 PM ET
CBC News
The Illinois governor accused of offering to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder will not pick the U.S. president-elect's replacement, his lawyer said Wednesday.
Ed Genson told reporters that Senate leaders have already said they won't accept an appointment by Rod Blagojevich, so there's no reason for the Democratic governor to select someone.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court of Illinois refused to hear a request from the state's attorney general for the removal of Blagojevich under accusations he is "unfit to serve."
Attorney General Lisa Madigan argued Blagojevich could "no longer fulfil his official duties with any legitimacy" after criminal charges were laid against him.
"I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary circumstances," she said at the time. Both Madigan and Blagojevich are Democrats.
Blagojevich was arrested last week over allegations he sought to benefit from choosing a successor for U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's now vacant Senate seat.
A panel has also been set up by the Speaker of the Illinois house of representatives — Madigan's father, Michael Madigan — to consider whether to impeach Blagojevich.
Governor 'dying' to tell his side of story
The embattled governor fought back earlier Wednesday, challenging the neutrality of the panel and its methods through his attorney.
Genson argued it would be illegal for the panel to use material from government wiretaps and objected to the committee's rules, saying they don't have a clear standard on how to decide whether to impeach Blagojevich.
Genson also told the panel that some members have made statements indicating they'd already made up their minds on the matter.
The panel chairwoman, Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, rejected Genson's challenges and said the committee rules "will be fair and open." The committee will recommend to the full house whether to move forward with impeachment.
She also said the committee has a wide latitude on how it handles evidence since it's not a court of law.
As Blagojevich emerged from his Chicago home Wednesday morning for a jog, he told reporters that he plans to publicly address the allegations.
"I can't wait to begin to tell my side of the story and to address you guys and, most importantly, the people of Illinois. That's who I'm dying to talk to," he said.
"There's a time and place for everything. That day will soon be here and you might know more about that today, maybe no later than tomorrow."
With files from the Associated Press
