Blago attorney doubles down
posted at 9:57 am on December 26, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Ed Genson wants to play a game of chicken with the Illinois House and its impeachment panel. The attorney for Governor Rod Blagojevich has demanded that the committee issue subpoenas to people connected to the pay-for-play scandal, including Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. Ostensibly, Genson claims that they will clear Blagojevich, but it’s really a high-stakes gamble:
An attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has asked the legislative panel considering impeachment of the governor to subpoena more than a dozen witnesses, including President-elect Barack Obama’s incoming chief of staff.
Ed Genson wants the committee to subpoena Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), longtime Obama friend and adviser Valerie Jarrett, and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), said state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie.
Currie, the head of the committee, said she did not yet know what the committee’s response to Genson’s request would be. Its next meeting is scheduled for Monday, she added.
Currie noted that the U.S. attorney’s office has already denied the panel’s request to interview a list of people named in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich. U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said earlier this week that lawmakers’ interviews of current or former members of Blagojevich’s staff might jeopardize his criminal investigation.
Genson’s demand is a big bluff, a sing-or-get-off-the-karaoke-stage moment for the Illinois legislature. He knows that they will resist interfering in Patrick Fitzgerald’s investigation, and that Fitzgerald will act to protect it. They have the right to issue these subpoenas, but if they derail the years-long probe into Illinois corruption by doing so, they will bear the blame for its collapse. On the other hand, if they don’t subpoena these witnesses (and potential co-conspirators), then Genson can make a public argument that impeachment is nothing more than a railroad job, an illegitimate attempt at a coup in Illinois.
Would that work? Potentially, it could. The Illinois House doesn’t need to prove a crime was committed in order to impeach Blagojevich, as the state constitution doesn’t have any restrictions at all on grounds for impeachment. It’s a purely political process — but that cuts both ways. If Genson paints them as a kangaroo court unwilling to force the appearance of witnesses that might reluctantly produce exculpatory evidence, or unable to prove any crime was committed, then that puts the legislature in a very bad position, politically speaking.
Genson’s betting that the legislature will back down from impeachment if he can make it look like Blagojevich isn’t getting a fair hearing. He’s using the law as a springboard for a political campaign to save Blagojevich. The big question is whether Genson holds any cards at all for this bluff, or whether Blagojevich and the wiretap tapes will inevitably trump any questions on process.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.
Blackacre on December 26, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Didn’t Currie get the memo? Barry’s staff know nothiiing…nothiiing!
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:07 AM
It sounds as though the legislature is in a good position to reap the labor of Fitzgerald’s investigation.
True, he’s not going to jeopardize his case, and they have agreed not to mess things up for him, but the quid pro quo could be: “Fine, so give up everything you can, and make it quick”…
heldmyw on December 26, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Didn’t Currie get the memo? Barry’s staff know nothiiing…nothiiing!
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:07 AM
——
Yes, I know you’re kidding.
I am soooo expecting someone on Team Obama to do a sword-fall over this, though.
It’s probably too much to expect, but I’m hoping to hear those glorious words “This was not the Rahm Emanuel I thought I knew…”
Mew
acat on December 26, 2008 at 10:13 AM
The goal of the legislature is to side track Fitgerald, so look for them to call Blogo’s bluff.
RedSoxNation on December 26, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Ed Genson is the biggest shyster defense lawyer in Chicago, and he only specializes in taking on high profile celebrity cases because he knows that is where the big money is. The problem he has here is that he is way over his head as far as his trying to make the State Legislature back down from impeaching Blagojevich. He seems to have a very hard time understanding that Blagojevich is pretty much despised by the majority of the States Legislature, not to mention over 99.9% of the people in Illinois. So if he thinks he is going to be able to pull some sort of legalistic rabbit out of the hat here, he may wind up getting his head handed to him in the process.
pilamaye on December 26, 2008 at 10:22 AM
There is just too much political hullabaloo over this situation for it not to lead to connections deep within the Chicago Political Machine, including the Potus-Elect.
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:23 AM
but genson may have friends of his own somewhere in the illinois corrupt govt.
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:25 AM
oh, hey, nothing will touch The One. he might be making his way to baghdad now to heal our troops spirits & mend all the strife there.
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Excellent.
Democrat politicians and insiders can’t utter a sentence without telling three lies and these will be under oath.
Scuttling the careers of corrupt Obamaites such as Emmanuel, Jarrett and Jackson would be good for the country and would purge the Democrat Party of some of its leading scum.
NoDonkey on December 26, 2008 at 10:27 AM
I am having a vision.I see the future.
I predict A BIG FAT NO.
There is no way that that body will drag Obama’s team through the mud.Obama will be President in less than a month and Eric Holder will squash the investigation and the press can’t wait to drop this.
Besides…how much power do they really have to compel a witness…?I mean really,what would happen if you tell the Illinois State Legislature to go screw?
Will you end up on super secret double probation?
NeoKong on December 26, 2008 at 10:29 AM
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:26 AM
If he didn’t care enough to shake our soldiers’ hands while he was on his world tour during the campaign, he won’t go over for a visit now. Unless there’s a bigwig he forget to suck up to.
The MSM is ignoring the Blago situation and calling it inconsequential. That tells me where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:30 AM
forget=forgot
Christmas cookie overdose.
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I’d love to know how this is affecting inner-circle democrats. I mean, are they feeling like this is playing out the way they hoped, or are they getting jittery?
I just can’t tell because I’m not good at reading signals like this.
Anyone have a sense? I mean, I know they’re very confident they can get away with pretty much anything unethical or criminal because we have no journalism anymore in America. But are they at least concerned? Tell me they’re sleeping with one eye open, that’s what I want to hear.
jeff_from_mpls on December 26, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Someone commented the other day about Krauthammer’s assertion that this will all go nowhere, because the American people have no appetite to go after Obama and a new President this way. That is a very compelling argument. It has nothing to do with guilt or innocence mind you. At this stage, I don’t think there is anything that Obama cannot talk his way out of, judging by the mindless cretins I know who voted for him.
JiangxiDad on December 26, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Patrick Fitzgerald is more than able (and willing it would seem) to screw this investigation up all by himself. Makes me wonder what his motive was for “jumping the gun” on the arrest. Or is he just that horrible at his job.
Tommy_G on December 26, 2008 at 10:36 AM
back up to kingjester: i was being sarcastic, of course, about obambi wanting to meet with troops to boost their morale. however, does bambi’s brain connect the dots? socialism does not mean pacifism. he’ll need the military.
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Not only no journalism, but a drugged electorate living in a state of stupor.
JiangxiDad on December 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
krauthammer is gloomy. but then again, he has every right to be.
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Is that possible? Aren’t they philosophical opposites?
JiangxiDad on December 26, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Huh? With whom?
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Kelly –
I was referring to an e-mail that was going around back during the campaign from one of our boys over in Iraq. When Obama got off the helicopter on his world tour, he ignored all the troops to go suck up to the bigwigs. Normally, our government leaders make an effort to shake hands and express their appreciation to our fighting men and women. Barry seemed to just want to suck up to the Brass. I don’t know if he is just arrogant or truly looks down on our Best and Brightest.
We will have to see how he treats them we he assumes office. I don’t have a good feeling about his attitude toward the Armed Forces, though.
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:43 AM
we=when
oops.
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:43 AM
i don’t have a good feeling about bambi’s attitude about our military either. the military “gives” of themselves every minute. bambi is a taker.
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:45 AM
The other possibility is that Blago and his lawyer are in effect declaring their intention to bring to the public all his dealings with politically-connected people from Illinois, unless he receives a get out of jail free card and probably some side benefits.
indythinker on December 26, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I doubt this is going to hurt Obama because it will be overshadowed by the positive emotions of the coronation and anointing rite on Jan 20th.
However, I think in the long run this Obama fellow is going to have a hard time with his “uh, uh, there, was, uh, you know, the uh, uh, and, uh, uh…” plus the defensive commie smirk when he’s under stress. Americans might not be the most educated folk, but when we get past our idealist defenses and see what’s what, we’re pretty good at running charlatans out of town, no matter how popular they once were.
Just ask John Edwards.
jeff_from_mpls on December 26, 2008 at 10:49 AM
blago & genson might avoid impeachment, but what does fitz have in store for him? if not the “pay to play” scheme, isn’t there other investigations into blago’s dealings?
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Kingsjester,
That e-mail was BS.
Tom_Shipley on December 26, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Tom_Shipley on December 26, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Prove it. Oh, by the way, in a related subect, it is a fact that Bubba and Hil were fond of using our military in dress uniforms as servers at state dinners
kingsjester on December 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Read the link.
Tom_Shipley on December 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
oh no, mr shipley is back. mr shipley, in how many campaign clips & tv news articles did we see bambi with the military? very few.
kelley in virginia on December 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Genson is an outstandingly good lawyer.
There is every chance that he will get Blago off on this charge. The One is from Chicago and he and the political machine will not want a bloody scene if they can possibly avoid it. Couple that to a lawyer of Genson’s talents and I see them wiping the floor with Fitzgerald as a real possibility.
It doesn’t really matter if Blago is a crook or not in this scenario.
Ares on December 26, 2008 at 10:55 AM
True enough. There are two big things people are going to have to get through their heads: 1. No matter what, Obama will come out of this smelling like a rose. 2. There is no way the media are going to allow Obama to fall, or even slip in a major sense. NO. WAY.
ddrintn on December 26, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Shipley has it in his mind today that he can convince us that Barack Obama loves the troops!
You have to marvel at the layers upon layers of psychological defenses at work the mind of DNC shills.
jeff_from_mpls on December 26, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I don’t have as high an opinion of my neighbors and you do. But I do think Edwards sank (and not necessarily forever) because there was a child involved in the infidelity. That’s a line the MSM hadn’t yet crossed when the Edwards affair was revealed. But Sarah Palin changed all that, with the stunning treatment by the MSM of her children. My guess is that faced with the same situation again, the MSM will save the next Edwards.
JiangxiDad on December 26, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Jeff,
Kingsjester cited that e-mail as evidence that Obama does not care about the troops. I was simply correcting the record in regard to that e-mail. It was BS.
Tom_Shipley on December 26, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Not trying to convince you. Just proposing that alternate reality that the majority of Americans feel most comfortable living in.
Barak is good and decent and honorable and cares.
He is a friend to all and a beacon of hope.
Everything else is just a variation of a theme. Can you honestly tell me that living in Mpls you don’t know many people that only want to hear that?
JiangxiDad on December 26, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Fitz has already indicted Blagojevich, and Rezko has been convicted. If lawmakers’ interviews with Blagojevich’s staff would “jeopardize his criminal investigation”, what does Fitz have, and whom is he pursuing?
If Emanuel, Jarett, and JJ Jr. are subpoenaed under oath, could their testimony damage Obama as well as Blagojevich? Or would they dump on Blagojevich to protect Obama?
If Blagojevich can hang on until January 20, he might be able to resign and receive a pardon from President Obama.
Steve Z on December 26, 2008 at 11:15 AM
If I were Blagojevich I’m not sure I’d be taking that daily private plane flight, especially with the conveniently bad weather in the area.
There are way too many important people who’d be more than willing to make room on their calendar to attend the service.
I wonder if he’s got a ‘time bomb’ document sitting somewhere, just in case?
KCSteve on December 26, 2008 at 11:16 AM
We’re in the money, we’re in the money;
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along!
We’re in the money, that sky is sunny,
Old Man Depression you are through, you done us wrong.
We never see a headline about breadlines today.
And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eye
We’re in the money, come on, my honey,
Let’s lend it, spend it, send it rolling along!
Oh, yes we’re in the money, you bet we’re in the money,
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along!
Let’s go we’re in the money, Look up the skies are sunny,
Old Man Depression you are through, you done us wrong.
We never see a headline about breadlines today.
And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eye
We’re in the money, come on, my honey,
Let’s lend it, spend it, send it rolling along!
“We’re in the Money,” lyrics by Al Dubin, music by Harry Warren (from the film Gold Diggers of 1933, 1933)
http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/cherries.html
Speakup on December 26, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Krauthammmer is right that the public doesn’t want Obama to be taken down by the Blago probe, if there does happen to be something there. But the public also doesn’t give a damn if Emanuel, Jarrett, Jesse Jr., or any of the other Obama aides or Illinois pols are taken down in the probe, because they have no emotional involvement in them.
So depending on how many actual cards Genson and Blagojevich hold, this won’t be anything near a crippling or fatal blow against the new administration, but it could be a major annoyance, especially if Reid and Pelosi try to play a game of chicken between the White House and Capitol Hill and Emanuel’s too preoccupied with his own legal troubles to do any serious arm twisting in Congress.
jon1979 on December 26, 2008 at 11:24 AM
For Obama personally, it won’t even be that. After Jan 20, all will be practically forgotten.
ddrintn on December 26, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I’m personally sick of the whole Illinois, Obama, Blago scandal, and letting his crap drag on forever. Patrick Fitzgerald has opened his mouth, and now must get off his dead butt. Either Fitzgerald’s evidence was ready, or not. I say open the whole can of rotten worms, and let the maggots crawl, and fall where they may. If it brings down a governor, or the presidency, or whoever…so what!
byteshredder on December 26, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Fitzgerald – Schmitzgerald; he’s the one that started this whole thing, and surely he saw this coming (if he didn’t, he’s an incompetent player and should be ignored anyway). If he didn’t want people talking to his witnesses, he should have kept his own piehole shut.
Don’t know what he could do to stop the committee from calling any witness they want to (and should) call, but that’s his problem. The committee’s gotta do what they gotta do.
ManUFan on December 26, 2008 at 11:35 AM
The problem for Obama is that the very characteristics that drew him toward Rahm Emanuel, make him hard to handle in this situation. Emanuel has sharp elbows and a big appetite.
Consigliere to the Prez and with aspirations to be the capo di tutti capi in the House….. As a result, the most dangerous situation on earth right now is to be a midlevel staffer with connections to Emanuel,Obama and Blogo and who is aproximately the same height and build as Emanuel and someone that no one will miss.
moxie_neanderthal on December 26, 2008 at 11:55 AM
The U.S. Senate didn’t have the votes to convict “B.J.” Clinton over the Monica / perjury scandal. He is still looked up to and respected by most liberals despite his scummy behavior.
***
What does the Blago impeachment / conviction potential look like in the liberal controlled Illinois senate? No problem here–Blago looks a lot like “Slick Willie” (no pun intended!) to me–he fits in perfectly.
***
John Bibb
rocketman on December 26, 2008 at 12:33 PM
“Exculpatory evidence?” There is no requirement AT ALL for the legislature to help Blago defend himself against impeachment. Of course he can always whine to the press about anything he wants — about Illinois state congressmen being space aliens if he wants. But that’s all completely irrelevant to the impeachment proceedings.
Exculpatory evidence will be an issue in determining whether Blgo actually goes to prison or not. But that’s it. If the legislature goes along with this moronic game, that does nothing but show they’re all neck-deep in the corruption.
logis on December 26, 2008 at 1:05 PM
I very much want to see Obama taken down bythis before he can get his hands on the reigns of Government. Whatever it takes!!
Kevin in Southern Illinois on December 26, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Is this just the first shot over the bow of what it will be like during the Obama four years?
jeanie on December 26, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Absolute proof that most Dems are lemmings being lead by popularity/idol worship/peer pressure. No critical thought allowed. No scum low enough that they cannot be put (back up) on a pedestal. No questions please… Just swoon, faint, then vote “D”.
RalphyBoy on December 26, 2008 at 3:49 PM
This situation will be totally different in less than 30 days. (the inauguration).
I’m still not sure about Fitz and why he arrested Blago when he did.
Anyway, I would think that he would have to take some action before the inauguration.
IF.. repeat, IF, he were going to try to bring any charges against obie, the best time would be during the cold, icy winter months. The brads can get snow cleats for their treads and firehoses will have a serious calming effect on rioters in subzero weather.
I still cannot see how obie can get away with the rezko-obamamansion land deal and the latter blatant quid pro quo of stacking the hospital board in favor of rezko. I guess you don’t have to be honest to be potus-elect.
bullseye on December 26, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Socialism requires a military loyal to socialism and the socialist leadership. A military loyal to the US Constituion poses a problem to anyone seeking to overthrow the Constitution (whether from within or outside the country.) The military plays a major role if thngs escalate with respect to a major expansion of government and the trampeling of constitutional protections (free speech, association etc.). Ultimately, any government remains in power as long as it has the loyalty and support of the military. Hence, the President as Commander in Chief, the only nationally elected member of the Constitutional government. The power of the military keeps the govt in power. Otherwise you have a coup. Is this why Obama advocates a new civilian military/poice force with funding and power equal to the current military?
jerseyman on December 26, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Why did Fitz move so early on the senate seat pay to play scandal? To this lay person, it would have made more sense to see who was implicated by letting this thing play out longer.
We know that Fitz is not above politics, given the Scooter Libby travesty. My guess is Fitz was worried that the longer this senate seat was in play, the greater chances of creating problems for Obama.
moxie_neanderthal on December 26, 2008 at 5:14 PM
He might have either moved early because he needed to get things in the works before he would be fired by team Obama -or- he wanted to open things up before they got to obama.
I don’t have the info or expertise to figure which was the reason.
I’m wondering if the blago subpeanas of obamas
goonsstaff are a way of bringing pressure on obamama and his team. “HEy find a way out for me or your dirty laundry will be going up the flagpole, skidmarks and all”bullseye on December 26, 2008 at 5:27 PM
I had thought Fitz moved when he did because the Chicago tribune was breaking the story, no?
Red State State of Mind on December 27, 2008 at 8:02 PM
BINGO!!!
Its Blago’s call/ announcement/ threat for a “get out of jail free” card.
“Either you drop this or I take everyone down with me, and everyone is everyone….”
B.Hussein, Jackson, Jarret, Rahm, SEIU, and more from the Chicago dirt machine.
Why is it all taking so long and why are ‘all concerned’ now speaking only thru their lawyers? Protection and game-planning. Gotta get all the stories straight ya know.
I think Fitz and Holder are looking at the possible fallout or the very real threat of race wars if obama actually gets indicted pre-inauguration. Think about it.
I personally have ZERO doubt that barry is in deep doo doo, look at his past 20 years. This is what he does.
Can you name one clean friend of Barry and Michelle?
shooter on December 28, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Although I don’t totaly agree with each of your points, I think you bring up some great points. It would be incredible if Blago is able to bring down/expose all the other corrupt Chicago machine politicians. However, I expect that the IL legislature will find a way to make a deal with him, keep him quiet, and let this fade away.
Red State State of Mind on December 28, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Comment pages: