Legal News

Genson Bails as Blago Sits Down With Sawyer; Oprah for Senate?

By Dan Slater

This morning, as his impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate is set to open, Blago continued his media blitz on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Host Diane Sawyer began the interview by noting that Blago was with her in New York doing rounds of media interviews instead of defending himself at his impeachment trial in Illinois. She later asked him if he did anything wrong, to which he responded: “Absolutely not and I’ll have a chance in a criminal case to show evidence and bring witnesses.”

Strangely, he also said that he’d considered appointing Oprah to the Senate seat vacated by Obama. “She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way to become president,” Blago said, adding that “she had a much broader bully pulpit than a lot of senators.”

Whatever defense Blago winds up putting on in the Senate trial, he’ll do so without the counsel of Eddie Genson, who announced on Friday that he’s bailing on the representation. “I never require a client to do what I say, but I do require them to at least listen,” Edward Genson said. “I intend to withdraw as counsel in this case.” Here’s an AP report.

The move by Genson comes 10 days after Blago’s legal team stepped down in protest before the gov’s trial in the Illinois Senate.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on January 26, 2009 (boomark / email).