Blagojevich: 'I Will Fight', Won't Resign

Dec. 19, 2008— -- A defiant Gov. Rod Blagojevich told the people of Illinois today that he will not step down and intends to fight the corruption charges against him.

"I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing," Blagojevich said at a brief press conference today in Chicago. It was the first time Blagojevich publicly addressed the corruption charges filed against him 10 days ago.

"I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath," said Blagojevich.

The governor did not address the vast array specific allegations against him saying that he would fight the charges in court. "I'm dying to answer these charges," he said.

"I'm not going to quit my job. I'm not going to do what my accusers and political enemies have done and that is talk about this case in 30 second sound bites. I am dying to show you how innocent I am. I intend to answer every allegation that comes my way."

Blagojevich thanked his supporters saying "it's kind of lonely right now."

"I know there are some powerful forces alligned against me," he said, "but I have on my side the most powerful ally there is, and it's the truth."

Blagojevich's attorney, Sam Adam Jr., told reporters that the governor would resign if "the people of Illinois suffer" as a result of him fighting these charges. He also said that many of the conversations referred to in the FBI affidavit were taken out of context.

The FBI affidavit unsealed last week included numerous transcripts of recorded conversations that prosecutors say point to a scheme to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, as well as other acts of corruption. One conversation revealed that Blagojevich wanted Obama "to put something together…something big" in exchange for going along with Obama's choice to fill his vacant U.S. Senate seat.

"I've got this thing and it's f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for f***in' nothing. I'm not gonna do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there," Blagojevich said in a phone call secretly recorded by the FBI Nov. 5, the day after the election, according to the affidavit.