Attorney Says Case Against Blago ‘Significantly Exaggerated’
EmailABC News’ Matthew Jaffe reports from Chicago: Chicago defense attorney Ed Genson, who met with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich twice this weekend and who expects to be retained today, said that the case against the governor is "significantly exaggerated" and if he is retained, they will fight the charges.
"It’s like a snowball running down the hill and it’s gotten really really large. It’s an avalanche now," Genson told reporters as he arrived at work Monday morning. "And… I think the case, the case that I’ve seen so far is significantly exaggerated. It’s just, it’s not what people think it is."
Genson met with Blagojevich for much of Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the lawyer’s downtown Chicago offices.
Warned the attorney today, "If I’m trying the case, it’s going to be a fight."
"Impeachment and criminal proceedings?" asked a reporter.
"Impeachment and criminal proceedings," Genson replied.
Genson said he expects to know this afternoon if he will take on the governor’s case, but first he has to make sure there are no conflicts.
"I have conflicts and I have to talk with the other people and other potential clients and people who I’ve been retained for over the years, make certain that the conflicts are something that’s, that doesn’t prevent me from properly representing him," Genson said.
In the past, the high-profile attorney has represented R&B singer R. Kelly and media mogul Conrad Black.
"I very rarely have an insignificant challenge," he noted.
Genson said there was a Yiddish phrase that came to mind when asked about the case against the governor, but he refused to say what it was.
One reporter said he had heard from a source that the wire-tapped recordings of Blagojevich’s conversations reveal "a guy there talking shop, but they don’t see any overt acts."
Responded Genson with a smile, "I have a lot of respect for whoever said that to you, but I don’t want to comment."
Gulf of Mexico to Become Gulf of America? 
Can Mitt Romney Win Conservatives Back?
Blago, just go. Nobody wants you to stay on. Spare us all the pain and RESIGN NOW.
Posted by: dem in chicago | December 15, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
I suspect that Fitzgerald BLEW the case by arresting Blago too early before any money changed hands.
Apparently it was the Chicago Tribune that published an article on Friday Dec 5th that Blago was being wiretapped. After that happened Blago pulled back. Jesse Jackson Jr met with Blago AFTER it was made known that Blago was being wiretapped thus I suspect his discussion with Blago was fine.
I have a sick feeling that Blago is going to get away with this and will end up staying in office.
Posted by: Cameron | December 15, 2008, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
No reason for Blago to resign.
The Feds have no case. There’s
nothing in the Feds’ complaint
that is any more than normal
political horesetrading talk
by the governor with his advisors.
Posted by: anon | December 15, 2008, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
The Feds have been investigating Blago and his cronies for the past three years. There is likely to be much more evidence than what has been reported in the crimnal complaint of last week. He will be impeached.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | December 15, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
The Feds, and Fitz in particular, have their ducks in a row. Highly unlikely that they would lose a case.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | December 15, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
No question that Americans are more involved with the news on jobs and the auto bailout. But a long simmering Blago scandal is hardly a good thing for Obama. He needs Blago to give it all up and go to the Big House quietly – ASAP.
Posted by: matt | December 15, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
This will be interesting. All we hear are snippes of conversation. This attorney may be right…it was all overblown. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Posted by: Ted | December 15, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
And all that OJ wanted was to get his own personal stuff that his freinds stole from him!
Posted by: roscoe02 | December 15, 2008, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
Fitzgerald wouldn’t take the case on and risk his reputation if there weren’t substantial goods on Blagojevich. Of course, Genson would publicly minimize the charges of his client to create doubt. That’s some of what he’s getting paid for.
Posted by: kat | December 15, 2008, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
They pulled the plug before catching Blago in the act. And they only filed two charges against him. For some reason, the investigation must have been cut short. Perhaps they wanted to get Blago before Obama came in to office, or before Obama’s aides got in too deep. Blago was caught saying out loud what many politicians say in their head. If he had acted through surrogates and not pointedly asked for jobs and money for himself and his wife he could be dismissed as another old-school pol. Of course, these old school pols are being weeded out and that is a very good thing!
Posted by: hopesprings52 | December 15, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
was the plugged pulled before obama was caught?
Isn’t appointing caroline kennedy the same kind of pay to play?
how do we know that wasn’t the deal for her endorsement?
Posted by: Tra la la | December 15, 2008, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Cameron:
I fully agree with you. Blago has not committed any offence. He just said the way we are blogging here. He did not act but all was freedom of speech.
Posted by: FM | December 15, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
Tra La La: here’s a bulletin for you. Obama DOES NOT make the appointment of a senator to replace Hillary.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | December 15, 2008, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
i know it is hard for a lote of people but i think it might be the little girl i wont to send prayers to the hole family i know i would go insane with out my child
Posted by: kelly | December 15, 2008, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Blago’s offense was being born…He will be impeached regardless of his proven guilt in a court of law. He is guilty of being the worst governor in Illinois history. Illinoians who cannot see what a menace he has been need to reevalutate their sanity.
Posted by: Libertarian | December 15, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Wow! A Blago thread! Took, what, almost a week?
What’s the point of quoting a defense attorney?…they’re always going to say their client is innocent anyway.
Posted by: Grand Old Party | December 15, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
If i was living in Chicago, I would be moving to Arizona.
Posted by: Jack | December 15, 2008, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
ABC news reporter, Jake Tapper, needs to eat. Guess its the same thing the Iraqi news reporter that threw shoes at Bush yesterday was thinking. Maybe.
Posted by: Common Sense | December 15, 2008, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
The Office Of The President Elect calling on Blago governer to resign, they think he is guilty. But if Governer Blago is not guilty and did nothing wrong, The Office Of The President Elect will be apologizing to Governer Blago and the American people.
Posted by: Joe | December 16, 2008, 1:38 am 1:38 am
This will be interesting. All we hear are snippes of conversation. This attorney may be right…it was all overblown. We’ll just have to wait and see.
What do you people think a defense attorney is going to say…”Opps, my guy is guilty!” ???
Posted by: Mike_C | December 16, 2008, 11:00 am 11:00 am
If i was living in Chicago, I would be moving to Arizona.
Jack,
If I was living in Chicago, I would ask Obama if could get my hands on that lot next to his. Apparently its the only spot in Chicago where the slime of the political machine can’t go.
Posted by: Mike_C | December 16, 2008, 11:02 am 11:02 am
You can bet he will not go down without taking a few with him…and those few will not go down without taking a few and on and on and on…
Posted by: socalindep | December 16, 2008, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm