Lawyers Deny They Quit Blagojevich Impeachment Because of Fees
Lawyers who refused to defend Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich at his impeachment trial say their decision was made in protest of an unfair proceeding rather than over fear of unpaid fees.
Prosecutors have indicated they will not allow legal fees for the impeachment proceeding to be taken from Blagojevich’s $3.6 million campaign fund, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. They have agreed, however, that the fund can be used to help pay fees in the federal criminal case, which contends the governor tried to sell the Senate seat once held by Barack Obama.
Prosecutors have filed a notice that they intend to freeze the campaign fund, the story says, and lawyers have not taken money from it without government permission, the story says.
Lawyer Ed Genson labeled as “nonsense” the suggestion that the fee problem spurred the pullout, the Chicago Sun-Times says. Lawyer Sam Adam Jr. echoed that sentiment.
“Money had absolutely, positively nothing to do with this decision,” Adam told the newspaper.
Yesterday, Blagojevich failed to respond to the impeachment charges by a 4 p.m. deadline, the Chicago Tribune reports.
