Blagojevich Lawyer Calls It Quits

[Lochloosa]

Source: The AM Law Daily

A prominent member of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s legal team announced Friday that he plans to resign, but declined to offer specifics on the surprising development.
“I never require a client to do what I say, but I do require them to at least listen to what I say,” Edward Genson of Genson & Gillespie told reporters. “I wish the governor good luck and Godspeed.”
The Am Law Daily reported last week that disclosures by Blagojevich’s campaign finance fund, Friends of Blagojevich, indicated the governor had paid Genson $500,000 on December 18.


Read more: http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/01/blagojevich-lawyer-calls-it-quits.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. In other words, Genson has come to realize

that, though he is insane, his client won't plead an insanity defense.

[proudAZdem]

4. Either insane....

or completely corrupt.

I mean, if you were a lawyer would you want to stake your reputation and sanity on a guy like Blago? Think of all the things (not just trying to sell a Senate seat) that he's being charged with: http://tv1.com/playlists/109

[earcandle]

6. I don't see any indictments nor convictions for those rumors.

[barb162]

31. He's not insane. He's in need of money bigtime; needs to keep his job.

His legal bills are about 2 million and no lawyers really want to work for him for fear of never getting repaid.

[Frank Booth]

2. Looks like Genson is lacking the requisite testicular fortitude.

Plus, he probably realized $500,000 wasn't going to cover all his fees.

[Imagevision]

8. Anxious to see Fitzgerald do his thing with Blago..

[barb162]

37. Yeah and he could get stuck by the federal court for the federal case.

[elleng]

41. NOT AT ALL.

Genson said his client didn't LISTEN TO HIM. Genson does NOT LACK GUTS!

[davsand]

3. At least he paid this one.

There was another earlier law firm (Winston and Strawn) that Blago has not paid:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/11/Blagojevich_owes_500K_in_legal_fees/UPI-37111229043120/


Genson may have had a real loser for a client, but at least he got paid. I guess "Ghandi" Blagojevich is just such an angel he figures legal fees are divinely forgiven.

:eyes:



Laura

[AndyTiedye]

5. Probably Why This Law Firm Demanded Cash Up Front

Word gets around.

[barb162]

33. And they took a multi-million hit on the Ryan trials.

They weren't going to get unpaid again, espeically a Democrat.

[earcandle]

7. I don't understand why people are not standing for the rule of law over rumors. Are we idiots?

I'll say it again.

Since when are we in a political rather than a legal world
when it comes to those in power, especially in the state of
Illinois? Do we not have to follow the rule of law in the
Senate of Illinois?  Can they allow a monkey court to
terminate Blago with the rules they put forth that violate
his ability to stand a real trial and defend himself?  

What duplicity is this?  Even Rachel Maddow caved and falls
for the foam at the mouth of those who do not hold the rule
of law to be the rule of the land.  The man is innocent until
proven guilty.  And he has rights to be respected enough to
bear his own witnesses in his defense.  What the fuck is
going on in Illinois?  And how dare the press continue to
ridicule Blago without addressing the negligence of the press
in investigating why they are pulling this bamboozzle on the
seat of the governor, maybe all future governors?  

Can someone tell me what is the point and why they do not
give this man the respect that comes with his office until
proven guilty of something.  Mr. Fitz did not indict and did
not get an extension so all of that is hearsay and crap out
to smear this guy.  We gave Bush respect, and he was a lot
worse than this guy.  This guy stood up to Bank of America
for the workers of that place, and they got their pensions. 
This guy gets results.  Is that why they are mad? Mirror,
mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? 

Are we just going to sit back and watch a guy fight for the
rule of law and learn what we still have?  Or are we going to
fight for what we know is ours?  Are we blinded by jealousy
cause the man has hair? 

That, even if unconscious, would be insane. 

[cali]

9. no. it's not a criminal procedure and no they certainly do not

have to follow criminal procedures or rules. The Senate is not judging Blago on a legal matter but on a political one. It is not a trial. If they remove him from office, they will not be depriving him of either life or liberty. This is not about innocence or guilt.

Blago is in the midst of a fucking psychotic break. He has no fucking business at all being governor. Get him out and get him out fast.

[earcandle]

14. I suppose anyone smeared the way he has been smeared

would be subject to a psychotic break, if such is happening. 
I don't see it that way.  I see a lynching, and a man who was
voted in twice being framed because he is standing up for the
working folks and the poor against the disease and banking
industries.  I don't have any personal investment in this
person, but I do have a strong interest in investigative
journalism and people are behaving as if there are NOT two
sides to every story, including this one.  That concerns me a
lot.

Look, even the US Senate had to let Burris in because of the
legality issue, not the political one. 

We don't run our government on political will, we run it on
the rule of law.  Politics are for elections, not for
governing.  The Illinois Senate is not acting with the will of
the people but running roughshod over this man's elected
position.  Have a special election and save face, and see if
the people would re-elect him again, or someone else.  That
would show respect for the rule of law.

Or a recall would more demonstrate the will of the people than
this political lynch mob, who obviously have an agenda. 

I am losing respect for Illinois and its elected officials. 
It is shameful, given this is now looking like a political
cesspool from which Obama has sprouted. Makes me wonder,
especially when Rahm Emmanuel says nothing was said that was
illegal in the telephone conversations between Blago and
himself.  And furthermore, the US Attorney who started the
rumor did not back up his words with an indictment.  And
finally, whatever Blago, or anyone else, says in the privacy
of one's home is not evidence for anything.  We do have the
right to express our dissent in the privacy of our own homes,
and against those who want to use us for their own gain, and
he seems to have been complaining about everyone wanting to
push him around to get something from him, and he wanted to
get something out of it too!  What is so unusual about that? 
And where are those transcripts anyway?  The fact that he did
not act on these personal complaints, but is being treated as
if he did is criminal and unconstitutional.  

I smell a rat, and a bunch of ratfinks, and if we let this go
down, we are not honoring the oaths of office of our elected
officials, the rules of government, and the will of the
people.  And I see how the supposedly left journalists are in
the bag and quite ignoring the rule of law here.  That
dis-empowers all of us.

Look, you can kick someone out of your social group, even out
of your family if you don't like them.  But to kick someone
out of office requires a bit more than losing a popularity
contest, doesn't it?  If not, why should anyone bother running
and taking an oath if it all comes down to who likes you and
who doesn't, once in?  In California, they did a recall. At
least the people voted on it, not some power block with an
agenda.  

[cali]

16. his circumstances could have been what caused him to break from reality

but no, most people in his circumstance would not suffer a psychotic break. No, he's not being lynched, and no most people don't support him and didn 't even before all this came down.

The issue about Burris was different- though it was largely political.

Impeachments are not part of the legal system- no matter how much you may wish them to be. And Impeachment has nothing to do with the will of the people- nor should it. Impeachment is the prescription for removing a governor in the state of Illinois.

And one more time: Blagojevich is dangerously unstable. He needs to be removed immediately.

[davsand]

22. Illinois law does not allow for a recall.

It allows for an impeachment by the IL House and a trial in front of the IL Senate which is a political action NOT a criminal one.

I think it'd be more fair if Illinois law allowed me to drive 80 mph hour and that isn't allowed under the current set of laws. The rule of law says I have to drive 65 or face a fine. Wishing for anything else in the face of what exists right now is pretty much a waste of my time, isn't it...

You go on about the "will of the people" here in Illinois. Tell me, do YOU presume to know what it is or are are you putting you own opinion on this? I'm willing to bet that if you actually asked the average person who LIVES in Illinois how they feel about this impeachment you'd find a majority want Rod "Gandhi" Blagojevich removed from office. I've seen local polls--have YOU?



Laura

[earcandle]

27. Where can I see those local polls?

And why call him "Ghandi"?  That is not an insult,
by the way.  Ghandi was a great man who stood for strong
principles and won through non violence.  If Blago is like
this, then why impeach him? 

[davsand]

38. He dares to compare himself with Gandhi He's corrupt AND he's fucking nuts.

Article here:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110ap_illinois_governor_heroes.html

Be sure and catch him on TV Monday when he hits Today, GMA, The View and Larry King. Should be quite entertaining.

As for polls:

http://www.news-gazette.com/polls/pastpolls.cfm?id=3272

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/84_of_illinois_voters_say_blagojevich_should_resign

Pre-Arrest polling:

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/il_blagojevich_prearrest_rasmu.php

Pollster cited this article:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/december_2008/illinois_governor_never_popular_among_voters


I live here, I've seen it happening while Blago screwed the IL Dem party, and Blago is every bit as bad as he's being portrayed. I'm pretty sure Gandhi never tried to extort money out of a Children's Hospital. Blago, however, sure as hell did. The Senate is gonna get to discuss it when they hold his trial and it will not play well with those guys.

Blago not worth shit off the bottom of somebody's shoe, let alone worthy of comparing himself to Gandhi or any other principled person.


Laura

[Tansy_Gold]

36. Popularity contest

"But to kick someone out of office requires a bit more than losing a popularity contest, doesn't it?"

Actually, that's what an election is, on a grand scale. So yes, losing a popularity contest IS enough to kick someone out of office.


However, all that aside, most states and the federal government as well operate on the basis of those who are elected to office represent through that office the will of the people. In other words, we elect the people and then we let them do the governing for us, in our names. Otherwise we have to call national or statemwide town hall meetings on every single issue. That would be a bit cumbersome, don't you think?

So in Illinois (my native state, by the way) the state constitution gives the legislature the power to make a decision on behalf of the people as to whether they think the governor is fit to continue in office.

It is, therefore, by extension exactly a popularity contest. And that's the way it's supposed to be.


Tansy Gold

[barb162]

34. Look, I wished he would have resigned. But he didn't.

He's not talking nutty...he just realizes he can't get a "fair" trial there. It's going to be a political joke because probably half the people in the IL Senate and every other political body in the country does the same thing Blag has been doing: pay to play. Blag got caught. They will be depriving him of a job and he will probably never work again after this.

[enuegii]

13. Do you answer rhetorical questions? nt

[The Second Stone]

21. Innocent until proven guilty

I agree. I haven't seen any evidence against Blago that is not explainable, such as instead of "what will you do for me", "what will you do for my agenda". An impeachment trial where he cannot call witnesses is a kangaroo court. Rahm is a relevant witness in his case.

Now, as for his lawyer withdrawing, I gather that Blago will not listen to his lawyer's advice. I can't blame the lawyer for wanting out if Blago won't listen.

[Garbo 2004]

25. Impeachment proceedings are pursuant to IL Constitution. That's rule of law. nt

[barb162]

32. I agree with you. It's a kangeroo court and he deserves a FAIR trial.

Even though I think he is guilty as hell, he still deserves a real trial.

[Lugnut]

10. Who could blame him?

I wouldn't want to represent a coo-coo bird who won't shut up either.

[ohio2007]

11. "Riding off into the sunset" is he ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBlFh7P4MvU#

[MilesColtrane]

12. Batshit insane...

I don't blame him.

[marshall]

15. If they can't call witnesses how can they build a case?

Assuming it's true that Rahm is protected from being involved, along with JJJr. and the rest, there's not much point in staying on the payroll when there's nothing that can be done.

[cali]

17. they can call witnesses and they will be doing so. they can't call certain people.

[marshall]

30. Yeah, what I said

And that's the loophole he's grabbing onto.

[Piewhacket]

18. Blago is working up an insanity plea...

He knows his office is gone. The senate trial is mere formality.
Whats the point? Time to get naked, wrap himself in the flag and
parade, decrying all the wickedness and injustice being visited on him.

His lawyer says Blago isn't listening to him, therefore cannot
cooperate with counsel for his defense, an indication he is
either done gone psychotic or feigning psychosis.

Either way, he can't be governor, nor hold future office. He's toast.
I predict a 'complete meltdown' just before the criminal trial.

Then when that doesn't work, he'll claim he was enslaved by
drugs (which which might well explain his bizarre behavior).

And when all that doesn't work, he'll just break down and sob
uncontrollably about how sorry he is that everyone is so evil
and that he got caught.

[cali]

19. he's not faking it. I don't think you could fake his behavior.

[Piewhacket]

23. I'm not a shrink. so if you say so I'm not contradicting. PS great sig.

the stupid.. the stupid... it burns....

heh.
if only they had known.
but then, not knowing is pretty much the price of stupid, eh?
so whats left for us to do but warm our hands in the fire

burn, stupid, burn

[earcandle]

28. you seem to have it all wrapped up, much as the lynch mob seems to want it.

[Piewhacket]

40. its not personal. its political. he can't be governor. he should resign.

but he won't, and thats more proof that he can't be governor,
as if appointing Burris wasn't proof enough already.
result: he will be near unanimously removed. it won't be at all close.

as to the criminal matter... who knows whether he is guilty,
but guilty or not he should listen to his lawyer, who has been
probably telling him to shut up. but he won't.

So he apparently can't listen to his lawyer. The 'voices' in
he head won't let him, perhaps. The voices must be heard.
(Some of those 'voices' have been giving media interviews.)

I personally think he is corrupt, but the really big problem
is his behavior. He's acting nuts. Corrupt or not a governor must have
the confidence of the people and the political machine or he cannot function.
He has now been twice impeached 114 to 3 and 117 to 1 (his sister in law).
That is a huge crisis in confidence. Impossible for him to function.
The state has BIG problems and a governor who cannot function?

So there is no doubt as to the outcome of the senate trial.
He should have resigned, but didn't and now will be removed.

It ain't personal, it ain't evidentiary, its purely political.
The state must act to protect itself. Yet Blago can't see that.
That's because he's unfit. So there you are.

[snot]

20. I read somewhere that Blago missed the deadline to designate any witnesses

he might want to call. I.e., he's not been denied the right to call witnesses; he just didn't designate any.

This would be normal in a trial, I believe -- you have to let people know what witnesses you intend to call, so they too can interview them ahead of time and try to find out if there's a viable rebuttal to whatever they're likely to say. There has to be a deadline on how long you have to designate your witnesses, or a defendant could hold the trial up forever.

Some intrepid journalist should ask him who he'd designate if he could.

[AZ Criminal JD]

24. He already has. He said he wanted to call Obama's aides

Such as Rahm Emanual and others. The IL Senate refused to allow him to call any witnesses whose story favor his side. Fitzgerald is telling the IL Senate that he does not want witnesses in the impeachment trial which favor Blago because it could hurt his criminal case. The Senate is corrupt for going along with this demand. It is a kangaroo court and Blago is correct to not participate. There is a column in today's Chicago Tribune by John Kass which says Blago is going to expose the corruption in the Democratic Party in Chicago. I hope he does and let some sunshine in. Bring them all down as far as I'm concerned.

[Garbo 2004]

26. Blago missed deadlines to file legal responses in impeachment. Press conferences don't count.

Posted on Thu, Jan. 22, 2009
Governor ignores another impeachment deadline
Associated Press

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has missed another deadline in the build up to next week's impeachment trial.

Blagojevich was supposed to tell the state Senate what people and documents he wanted to subpoena for the trial. The deadline was 4 p.m. Wednesday.

But a Senate spokeswoman says the governor didn't submit the list of proposed subpoenas. The prosecution filed a list, but it won't be made public until Thursday.

Blagojevich has ignored other deadlines. He refused to file a response to the impeachment charges or even to seek to have the charges dismissed.

Blagojevich is accused of abusing his power by scheming to benefit from a Senate appointment, circumventing hiring laws and defying decisions by the General Assembly.

http://www.bnd.com/news/state/v-print/story/625663.html

[AZ Criminal JD]

39. Not true

The IL Senate leaders made it clear they were going to go along with Fitzgerald's demand they not allow Blago's to subpoena witnesses to testify. Blago could have filed all the requests he wanted to and they would have been denied and he knows it. It is a kangaroo court. He is right not to participate.

[snot]

42. Pls provide authority. If he wanted to preserve his rights,

he should have filed in compliance with the legal rules, which weren't invented just for his case.

If he filed in compliance and the leg. still refused to allow him any witnesses, he would then have grounds to complain/appeal. As it is, his behavior seems nonsensical at best.

[AZ Criminal JD]

43. You don't have a clue

The rules were invented for his case. The IL Senate made specific rules for the Blago impeachment. He can't appeal and everyone knows it. You can't appeal impeachment, it is not a judicial proceeding. If you want authority look at the Chicago Tribune or Chicago Sun-Times websites.

[snot]

44. Are you saying there was no deadline, or that he didn't miss it?

[earcandle]

29. this is my intuition on this as well, because peeps are just too gungho to not let justice be served

And what has Fritz done for our country but let Bush and Co get away with the Plame deal?

Lets not be blind.

[barb162]

35. This could get VELLLLLY EENTERLESTING

He should be allowed to call whoever he wants. In many ways this is a lynching.