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Ill. gov.'s attorney to resign from criminal case

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[January 24, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief defense attorney announced Friday that he is bailing out of the fraud and bribery case against the governor, strongly hinting that his embattled client refused to listen to his advice.

"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."

Genson, who won renown in defending R&B star R. Kelly and former newspaper baron Conrad Black, dropped his bombshell announcement after a U.S. District Court hearing during which Chief Judge James F. Holderman released four wiretapped recordings of Blagojevich and his associates to the Illinois House impeachment committee.

Genson still needs to file paperwork with the court to formally withdraw from the case.

The news came as a surprise to Blagojevich, who found out about Genson's plans during an appearance on a Chicago radio show.

"That's the first I've heard of it," Blagojevich told reporters at WVON-AM.

Blagojevich, who said he last talked to Genson on Thursday evening, declined to comment.

Blagojevich, facing charges of fraud conspiracy and solicitation of bribery, was impeached by the Illinois House last week and on Monday faces trial in the Senate.

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The governor held a news conference Friday afternoon and complained that the impeachment trial was unfair and indicated he would not attend. Instead, he and his wife, Patti, will appear Monday on "Good Morning, America" and "The View."

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said the governor had no immediate comment to Genson's announcement.

In recent days, Genson has seemed to be on a separate wavelength from both his client and two other defense attorneys on the case. The legal team sent mixed signals to the media regarding whether the governor planned a lawsuit challenging Senate trial rules.

Attorney Samuel E. Adam told The Associated Press on Thursday that a lawsuit was being prepared and could be filed with the Illinois Supreme Court within days. Genson told the AP that afternoon that he did not know whether Blagojevich would file a lawsuit to block the trial.

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"His action, what he's doing, isn't controlled by me," Genson said. "I'm not privy to it. I should be, but I'm not."

Genson needs to file paperwork with the court to formally withdraw from the case.

Blagojevich is charged in a criminal complaint with, among other things, plotting to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Barack Obama. The governor has the power to fill the vacant seat and after his arrest Blagojevich picked former state Attorney General Roland Burris.

The criminal complaint unsealed after Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 also accuses him of using the power of his office to squeeze campaign contributions and payoffs from companies and individuals doing business with the state.

He also is charged with scheming to use state aid to the Chicago Tribune in the proposed sale of Wrigley Field to force the firing of editorial writers who called for his impeachment.

[Associated Press; By MIKE ROBINSON]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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