Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Gov. Rod Blagojevich spent most of the day in his office at the Thompson Center. He still hasn't commented on the investigation, but plenty of others are talking about how they want him gone.

Meanwhile questions linger about contact between the governor and the president-elect.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports that the governor is back at home Wednesday night in Ravenswood Manor. There's been no activity outside of his house since.

All appears normal, but it is anything but as the cloud of the federal complaint alleging he tried to sell the president-elect's Senate seat hangs over him.

Blagojevich ended his 52nd birthday at home arriving back at his northwest side house around 7:45 p.m. with at least one daughter in tow. Since the federal complaint was announced Tuesday morning, Blagojevich has said nothing publicly. But the call for his resignation is getting louder despite the presumption of innocence.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taking a business as usual attitude despite the cloud of scandal surrounding him. He headed off to work Wednesday morning as a chorus of politicians called on him to quit. From the President-elect on down, nearly every politician in Illinois is calling for Blagojevich to resign or face impeachment, but the governor says he has no plans to step aside.

Barack Obama added to the pressure Wednesday, saying through a spokesman that Blagojevich should step aside.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president-elect believes "it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois."

"People really do question what's going on in there .. in his head,'' Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a longtime Blagojevich rival, said. "Is there some form of illness there? I 'm not a psychologist, but clearly he is unable to govern our state."

Blagojevich, whose approval ratings were plummeting near the single digits even before his arrest Tuesday on corruption charges, left his home at 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday, getting into an SUV. He arrived at his 16th floor office at the Thompson Center around 9 a.m., arriving in an underground garage. His wife, Patti, left the home with their two children around 8 a.m. Blagojevich stayed sequestered in his office for most of the day, dealing with the budget and other financial matters, according to a spokesperson.

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Through his attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, the governor said he has no plans to step aside. The Democrat was accused of seeking money or other favors to influence his choice in picking the Senate replacement for Obama. He also was accused of attempting to shake down the Tribune Co. over the sale of Wrigley Field.

Sorosky is a longtime friend of the governor's and the two worked together as young lawyers.

The man who ran against Blagojevich for governor in 2002 says it's time for Illinois to make a clean break

"I feel bad for the people of Illinois," said Jim Ryan. "They need to rise up and say we need authentic leaders with a moral compass and we haven't had that in a while."

"In this case if the question were asked me, 'Is it the best interest of Illinois that he resign?' The answer is obviously yes. I sent a letter today to the governor asking him to resign," Sen. Dick Durbin said.

Democrat State Rep. John Fritchey told CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery that impeachment proceeedings will have to begin immediately. Lt. Gov Pat Quinn told reporters Tuesday afternoon that Blagojevich should step aside.

The House Judiciary Committee chairman says he's already spoken to House Speaker Mike Madigan about taking such action against Blagojevich, and Fritchy believes it may be a necessity.

"I think the most honorable course of conduct would be for Gov. Blagojevich to resign. I don't see that happening based on his past comments. If that doesn't happen I think the House should be prepared to move quickly," Fritchey said.

Quinn said it's the right thing for Blagojevich to do to ensure that citizens know that state government continues with integrity.

Impeachment is one way to remove the governor from office. The state's 1970 constitution also allows for the governor to remove himself temporarily. Then, there's a constitutional provision coupled with a state supreme court rule that may also allows someone – like Attorney General Madigan – to argue his ouster before the court.

But former state senator and law professor Dawn Clark Netsch, who helped draft the 38-year-old constitution, cautions against its quick interpretation.

"I don't see in the constitutional language an opportunity necessarily for someone, except perhaps under general assembly legislation, to march in and say the governor cannot serve," Clark Netsch said.

Bottom line, Clark Netsch says this is unchartered territory.

"Bear in mind, what we are all dealing with is this is absolutely unprecedented. We have nothing to go on," Clark Netsch said.

Top Illinois lawmakers said Tuesday that they are preparing to call the Legislature into session as early as next week to set a special election, hoping to avert the possibility of their embattled governor picking the state's next U.S. senator.

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) said he is ready to convene the House on Monday to vote on a special election that would choose the successor to Obama.

"Today's events are shocking and disappointing. It represents a new low for conduct by public officials," Madigan said in a statement.

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones said he would also call senators back for a special session in the corruption-plagued state.

"The faith of the citizens of Illinois has once again been shaken," Jones said.

There are some unanswered questions. One being raised is did the governor have any contact in the past weeks with the president-elect? Obama's spokesperson says no. But three weeks ago, Obama's campaign-strategist turned senior advisor David Axelrod said the two had spoken about possible replacements. Axelrod later said he misspoke. But the Feds say Blagojevich is on tape cursing Obama for not playing politics his way. If they hadn't spoken, then what set the governor off?

"If the descriptions of these contacts come out differently over time, that will raise suspicions," said former U.S. attorney Joseph DiGenova.

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald was quick to warn against passing judgment on people mentioned in the complaint.

The president-elect is scheduled for a news conference Thursday where he will likely face questions about these charges.

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