Blagojevich Busted

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ― Signaling what is shaping up to be an epic battle to save Rod Blagojevich's job, the governor's attorney blasted members of the House impeachment committee, saying many have already made up their minds to try to force the embattled Democrat from office.

"Rod Blagojevich cannot get a fair and impartial hearing,'' said attorney Ed Genson, who tried unsuccessfully to delay the hearings and have three members removed from the panel.

Genson is a legal superstar who has handled a number of high-profile Illinois cases. Normally, those legal fireworks play out away from cameras and microphones, which are not allowed in Illinois courtrooms.

But everyone is getting an earful now, at Wednesday's very public impeachment hearing in Springfield. Genson left the capitol Wednesday evening, rolling calmly down a hallway after stirring up a hornet's nest.

Genson complained that he has had no time to prepare for the hearings, has neither a witness list nor the power to subpoena witnesses.

"He's throwing up enough dust to convince people not guilty, pure as driven snow," Committee chair Barbara Currie said of Genson.

Genson also argued that much of the evidence against the governor shouldn't be admitted. Among those things is the criminal complaint filed last week by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

But the thrust of Genson's argument about the governor's conversations caught on tape may have also hinted at his upcoming criminal court defense.

"People talk and talk and talk, but no one ever did anything," Genson said.

Before Genson spoke, Republicans objected to the makeup of the commmittee, complaining of the 12-9 advantage Democrats hold on the panel. They also were concerned that Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan holds subpoena power. Currie, a Democrat, said she would be more than happy to work with Republicans on who should be allowed to testify.

"We are concerned about getting to the bottom of the allegations,'' Currie said.

The fight was foreshadowed last Friday when CBS 2 reported Blagojevich, having decided to vigorously fight the charges, was about to hire the prominent defense attorney. The House voted on Monday to begin impeachment proceedings against the governor, who was arrested last week on federal corruption charges.

Earlier Wednesday, Blagojevich left his Northwest Side home and went running.

He told reporters outside his home that he's "dying" to talk to Illinoisans. He says he could do so by the end of the day or "maybe no later" than Thursday.

Blagojevich has been spending his days either at his office in Chicago or in meetings with Genson.

For Genson, whose most recent triumph was the acquittal of R&B star R. Kelly, and whose most recent defeat was the conviction of former Sun-Times owner Conrad Black, impeachment is new territory.

He's known for his riveting arguments to criminal court juries. But at the state capitol, he'll be facing a formidable audience, which has vowed to be fair, but which also has long-term animosity toward his client.

Blagojevich was accused in a federal complaint of attempting to auction off the appointment to President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat.

He also is accused of attempting to shake down the Tribune Co., threatening to withhold the sale of Wrigley Field unless the company fired some of the newspaper's editorial writers.

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