Kathianne
01-24-2009, 06:30 AM
With Chicago weather being what it is, there are times to be grateful for the free entertainment around these parts:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/govs-lawyer-intends-to-resign-from-criminal-case.html
Gov's criminal case lawyer to resign
January 23, 2009 5:38 PM | 30 Comments | UPDATED STORY
Edward Genson, the lead attorney for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said he intends to withdraw as the governor's lawyer in the criminal case.
Genson, who has been practicing law for 44 years, made a brief statement to reporters after a hearing this afternoon in federal court, where a judge had just ruled that four undercover recordings of the governor from the criminal investigation could be turned over to the state legislature.
"I never require a client to do what I say," said Genson, who was accompanied by fellow Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky. "But I do require them to at least listen."
"I wish the governor good luck and Godspeed," he added.
Asked about the status of the $500,000 that records show he has been paid from Blagojevich campaign funds, Genson said:
"The answer to that is that it's none of your guys' business."
Genson would have to file paperwork to formally withdraw from the case.
Well that followed another crazy news conference and the launching (http://www.wlsam.com/article.asp?id=152352) of his 'national version' of his side of the story. This caused the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board to use today's and tomorrow's editorials to be devoted to Blago:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0124edit1jan24,0,6488015.story
Thanks, Governor
January 24, 2009
Here in Chicago specifically, I'm calling on the Chicago Tribune editorial board and the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board. Get involved. Write editorials. Urge the state Senate leadership to change those rules. Give me a chance as the governor of this state to be able to put my case on, show my innocence and show that I've done mostly the right thing for the people of Illinois. But I can't do it unless the editorial boards weigh in and call on those lawmakers to follow the Constitution.
—Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Jan. 23, 2009
We're relieved that the governor of Illinois took time Friday to express renewed faith in the Tribune editorial board. One of the last times he voiced his thoughts about us—according to an FBI recording of Nov. 4—we sensed that he was distancing himself: "Our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support."
Time heals. On Friday a mellower Blagojevich invited us to opine that legislators are railroading him out of Springfield: The rules are stacked against him, he can't defend himself, he can't call as witnesses some of the folks with whom he discussed filling Barack Obama's seat in the U.S. Senate.
Governor, this is the wrong case for you to allege a conspiracy to get you fired. How so?
Yes, it's crucial that fairness suffuse impeachment proceedings, just as it's crucial that fairness suffuse what happens in courts of law. If we thought you were being driven from office unfairly, we'd say so with gusto.
We've done that before. In 1998 we opposed the impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton on the grounds that his offenses didn't merit removal from office.
A year before that, we had opposed the impeachment of then-Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice James Heiple. Here's the key passage from an editorial of April 5, 1997: "It is a grave step, placing the legislature in judgment of the executive or, in this case, the judiciary. It should be reserved for cases in which an official is incapable of performing his job or has so discredited himself that his ability to serve is hopelessly impaired. This case does not meet such a standard."
But your case, Governor, does meet that standard: You have demonstrated amply that you are incapable of performing your job. And you have so discredited yourself that your ability to serve is hopelessly impaired.
That's why we urged the Illinois House to impeach you. And that's why, after examining the Illinois Senate's trial rules and your complaints about them, we don't see the unfairness you allege.
We'll have more to say about that, Governor, in a Sunday editorial.
You were correct Friday in observing that the Chicago Tribune has a history of siding with victims of unfairness. In this case, those victims are the citizens of Illinois—not the governor who repeatedly abused them.
It may be cold, but never boring. :coffee:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/govs-lawyer-intends-to-resign-from-criminal-case.html
Gov's criminal case lawyer to resign
January 23, 2009 5:38 PM | 30 Comments | UPDATED STORY
Edward Genson, the lead attorney for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said he intends to withdraw as the governor's lawyer in the criminal case.
Genson, who has been practicing law for 44 years, made a brief statement to reporters after a hearing this afternoon in federal court, where a judge had just ruled that four undercover recordings of the governor from the criminal investigation could be turned over to the state legislature.
"I never require a client to do what I say," said Genson, who was accompanied by fellow Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky. "But I do require them to at least listen."
"I wish the governor good luck and Godspeed," he added.
Asked about the status of the $500,000 that records show he has been paid from Blagojevich campaign funds, Genson said:
"The answer to that is that it's none of your guys' business."
Genson would have to file paperwork to formally withdraw from the case.
Well that followed another crazy news conference and the launching (http://www.wlsam.com/article.asp?id=152352) of his 'national version' of his side of the story. This caused the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board to use today's and tomorrow's editorials to be devoted to Blago:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0124edit1jan24,0,6488015.story
Thanks, Governor
January 24, 2009
Here in Chicago specifically, I'm calling on the Chicago Tribune editorial board and the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board. Get involved. Write editorials. Urge the state Senate leadership to change those rules. Give me a chance as the governor of this state to be able to put my case on, show my innocence and show that I've done mostly the right thing for the people of Illinois. But I can't do it unless the editorial boards weigh in and call on those lawmakers to follow the Constitution.
—Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Jan. 23, 2009
We're relieved that the governor of Illinois took time Friday to express renewed faith in the Tribune editorial board. One of the last times he voiced his thoughts about us—according to an FBI recording of Nov. 4—we sensed that he was distancing himself: "Our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support."
Time heals. On Friday a mellower Blagojevich invited us to opine that legislators are railroading him out of Springfield: The rules are stacked against him, he can't defend himself, he can't call as witnesses some of the folks with whom he discussed filling Barack Obama's seat in the U.S. Senate.
Governor, this is the wrong case for you to allege a conspiracy to get you fired. How so?
Yes, it's crucial that fairness suffuse impeachment proceedings, just as it's crucial that fairness suffuse what happens in courts of law. If we thought you were being driven from office unfairly, we'd say so with gusto.
We've done that before. In 1998 we opposed the impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton on the grounds that his offenses didn't merit removal from office.
A year before that, we had opposed the impeachment of then-Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice James Heiple. Here's the key passage from an editorial of April 5, 1997: "It is a grave step, placing the legislature in judgment of the executive or, in this case, the judiciary. It should be reserved for cases in which an official is incapable of performing his job or has so discredited himself that his ability to serve is hopelessly impaired. This case does not meet such a standard."
But your case, Governor, does meet that standard: You have demonstrated amply that you are incapable of performing your job. And you have so discredited yourself that your ability to serve is hopelessly impaired.
That's why we urged the Illinois House to impeach you. And that's why, after examining the Illinois Senate's trial rules and your complaints about them, we don't see the unfairness you allege.
We'll have more to say about that, Governor, in a Sunday editorial.
You were correct Friday in observing that the Chicago Tribune has a history of siding with victims of unfairness. In this case, those victims are the citizens of Illinois—not the governor who repeatedly abused them.
It may be cold, but never boring. :coffee: