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Blago Set to Break His Silence
December 17, 2008 11:01 AM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports from Chicago: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will likely hold a press conference toward the end of this week, ABC News has learned.
The embattled governor, arrested last Tuesday, has yet to respond to charges that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat.
Instead, the reclusive lawmaker has stayed silent, only saying that he looks forward to speaking at the appropriate time.
On Wednesday morning, Blagojevich told reporters outside his Chicago house that he is eagerly anticipating the chance to state his case.
"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," said the governor.
"There's a time and place for everything. That day will soon be here and you might know more about that today and no later than tomorrow," Blagojevich added.
Although Blagojevich has stayed quiet, his lawyer, high-profile Chicago defense attorney Ed Genson, has stated that the governor is not guilty, not resigning, and instead will fight the charges.
Genson is in the state capital of Springfield Wednesday to meet with a special House investigative committee that will issue a recommendation sometime in the next month on whether or not Blagojevich should be be impeached.
UPDATE: Genson confirmed in a press conference today that Blagojevich was likely to hold a press conference towards the end of this week, but may delay it into next week.
"My client was planning on making a statement this Friday, but I got a feeling I may not be around Chicago this Friday, so maybe it'll be next week," Genson said. "He wants to speak. Now you have to understand this -- he's charged with serious criminal charges. Because someone doesn't want to give an advance notice of what he's gonna say doesn't make the person guilty."
December 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (307)
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He is a democrat he will get away with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Donna | Dec 17, 2008 11:19:21 AM
If he had anything on "The One" he would do best to get round the clock protection.
Posted by: Abe Noxious | Dec 17, 2008 11:22:49 AM
Just like Slick Willy, he will come out smelling like a rose. It all depends on what the meaning of the word is is.
Posted by: sniper609 | Dec 17, 2008 11:24:15 AM
Democrats are the worst type of criminal. They will lock you up, for the same things they do. But it's okay for them!
Posted by: Robert Stubbs | Dec 17, 2008 11:24:56 AM
Best Blago can hope for is the 24/7 security at the Metro Correctional Center. As long as he is on the street, Bams thug cronies can pull a Hoffa on him. Remember Blago, it's hard to scuba in Bubbly Creek when you wear a concrete Speedo.
Posted by: Joe M. Omma | Dec 17, 2008 11:26:07 AM
He will either get away with it, or end up at room temp when the new Chicago crime syndicate, I mean "new administration" takes office. Vince Foster times ten.
Congrats on your pick dems!
Posted by: Chucky | Dec 17, 2008 11:26:24 AM
Can you say "Vince Foster?" How many is the question!
Posted by: Tom Messer | Dec 17, 2008 11:26:32 AM
It will be the biggest waste of time, this press conference. He will admit to nothing, hold no one accountable, especially himself, and will probably still be Governor at the end of it all. He will not implicate Rahm Emanuel or Oshlockma, when every able-minded citizen is convinced that these schmucks had something to do with it. It's typical politics as usual, the type of politics that Oshlockma said he wanted to "change". This whole campaign to elect this schmuck has been one of the dirtiest campaigns to date. Typical Chicago politician who did whatever he had to do to win. Now Oshlockma is telling reporters to not continue with questions. This guy is not even in office and already we are seeing what he and his lying, cheating, corrupt friends are capable of doing. Get ready folks...four years of this is approaching. What a scam artist he has been. We were all fooled.
Posted by: Nick, New York, NY | Dec 17, 2008 11:26:37 AM
He's not a lawmaker. He's the Chief executive. Basic civics, anyone?
Posted by: Mark | Dec 17, 2008 11:27:21 AM
Why is it that the mainstream media don't have teams of reporters doing to Blago what they did to Palin -- or Joe the Plumber?
Conclusion: being in the tank for The One seems to mean that they have to be in the tank for Friends of Barack as well.
Posted by: Paul in NJ | Dec 17, 2008 11:27:30 AM
I am not a crook! and the check to prove that is in the mail.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | Dec 17, 2008 11:28:25 AM
Does anyone find it ironic that the guy Obama told to save his questions yesterday was the very guy Blago was trying to get fired?
Posted by: Jeff | Dec 17, 2008 11:29:28 AM
I wonder how many of his Chicago commarades will go down with him?
Posted by: HPK | Dec 17, 2008 11:31:20 AM
to this day I am still dumbfounded by the fact that he got reelected the first time. 4 years ago during the middle of his first term we already knew what a corrupt crook he is, but the chicago machine, erm excuse me, the people of illinois retained him.
Posted by: shane | Dec 17, 2008 11:31:51 AM
hey ABC nice story..why no mention that he is The (D) Governor? His political affiliation is so conspicuously absent?
Geee...I wonder why...........
Posted by: bruce | Dec 17, 2008 11:32:17 AM
He will claim some Republican held a gun on him & his wife and made them sniff glue, them told them what to say over the phone.
Posted by: Ed from Georgia | Dec 17, 2008 11:33:00 AM
Just read where we in Illinois now live in the land of Obama, guess he is more than Lincoln? This from a democrat elected to government from Illinois. Maybe some do but never me!
Posted by: M Bell | Dec 17, 2008 11:33:03 AM
Daley - Blago - Rezko - Obama - Rahm..... Will the media finally look into the dealings of "The One" and the community he comes from? Obama likes to avoid the truth by claiming ignorance. I am surprized that a man who is thought to be so smart seems to know so little about what is going on around him. He is a joke.
Posted by: No Connection? | Dec 17, 2008 11:36:15 AM
I think govenors are state EXECUTIVES not lawmakers. Might also want to remember that govenors are law enforcement, not lawmakers.
Posted by: He's Guilty | Dec 17, 2008 11:37:33 AM
Blaghole has had to have time to get his story straight with his attorney. Ditto with the Obama gang.
Posted by: csmith | Dec 17, 2008 11:38:57 AM
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