18-01-2009, 03:38 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/16...58592.html
"CHICAGO — Ten days before the impeachment trial that could cost Gov. Rod Blagojevich his office, his team of defense lawyers said Friday they have withdrawn from the proceedings, which two of the attorneys compared to a "lynching." Lead attorney Edward M. Genson disassociated himself from any lynching talk but did say the rules of the state Senate trial, the first of its kind in Illinois history, "were extraordinarily unfair" and assured that the governor would be convicted.
"It's a foregone conclusion," Genson told The Associated Press. He said he decided "a few days ago" not to take part but since then has been directed by Blagojevich not to attend.
"I have been instructed not to participate in the impeachment trial," he said. He said he will still defend Blagojevich on federal charges of fraud and bribery.
Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 and charged with planning to trade or sell the U.S. senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama's election. He was also charged with illegally using his powers to squeeze campaign contributors for money and planning to pressure the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers who wanted him impeached.
Attorney Sam Adam and his son, Samuel E. Adam, told the Chicago Tribune they have not had enough time to get ready for the Senate trial and don't have subpoena power to call their own witnesses.
"We cannot and will not degrade our client, ourselves, our oaths and our profession, as well as the office of the governor, by participating in a Potemkin-like lynching proceeding, thus making it appear that the governor is represented by competent counsel when in fact he is not," they said in a statement to the Tribune...."
"CHICAGO — Ten days before the impeachment trial that could cost Gov. Rod Blagojevich his office, his team of defense lawyers said Friday they have withdrawn from the proceedings, which two of the attorneys compared to a "lynching." Lead attorney Edward M. Genson disassociated himself from any lynching talk but did say the rules of the state Senate trial, the first of its kind in Illinois history, "were extraordinarily unfair" and assured that the governor would be convicted.
"It's a foregone conclusion," Genson told The Associated Press. He said he decided "a few days ago" not to take part but since then has been directed by Blagojevich not to attend.
"I have been instructed not to participate in the impeachment trial," he said. He said he will still defend Blagojevich on federal charges of fraud and bribery.
Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 and charged with planning to trade or sell the U.S. senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama's election. He was also charged with illegally using his powers to squeeze campaign contributors for money and planning to pressure the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers who wanted him impeached.
Attorney Sam Adam and his son, Samuel E. Adam, told the Chicago Tribune they have not had enough time to get ready for the Senate trial and don't have subpoena power to call their own witnesses.
"We cannot and will not degrade our client, ourselves, our oaths and our profession, as well as the office of the governor, by participating in a Potemkin-like lynching proceeding, thus making it appear that the governor is represented by competent counsel when in fact he is not," they said in a statement to the Tribune...."