Attorney Says Case Against Blago 'Significantly Exaggerated'

[BlueJessamine]

Source: ABC News

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports from Chicago: Chicago defense attorney Ed Genson, who met with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich twice this weekend and who expects to be retained today, said that the case against the governor is "significantly exaggerated" and if he is retained, they will fight the charges.

"It's like a snowball running down the hill and it's gotten really really large. It's an avalanche now," Genson told reporters as he arrived at work Monday morning. "And... I think the case, the case that I've seen so far is significantly exaggerated. It's just, it's not what people think it is."

Genson met with Blagojevich for much of Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the lawyer's downtown Chicago offices.

Warned the attorney today, "If I'm trying the case, it's going to be a fight."

"Impeachment and criminal proceedings?" asked a reporter.

"Impeachment and criminal proceedings," Genson replied.

Genson said he expects to know this afternoon if he will take on the governor's case, but first he has to make sure there are no conflicts.



Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/12/attorney-says-c.html

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~snip~

One reporter said he had heard from a source that the wire-tapped recordings of Blagojevich's conversations reveal "a guy there talking shop, but they don't see any overt acts."

Responded Genson with a smile, "I have a lot of respect for whoever said that to you, but I don't want to comment."

[Robbien]

1. Hey Mr attorney Genson. Fight on. But it is going to be on your dime. Blago's broke

All you'll get is media time.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. I believe it was a Hollywood actor who said, "There's no such thing as bad publicity."

Politicians, however, have another point of view on the matter.

[napi21]

2. I was listening to Lionel over the weekend, and he thinks Fitz jumped on this too soon.

From everything we've heard so far, no money ever changed hands, and we don't even know who Blogo was talking to on those tapes. All of us have at some time voiced statements that we would never carry out.

We'll have to wait and see just how much damning evidence Fitz has, and if he can PROVE there was bribery.

[cstanleytech]

6. Agreed. NT

[Joe Collins]

3. Fight on. Blago has rights too

Blago has rights. He is innocent until proven guilty. What's all this rush about . . he hasn't been formally charged with anything yet. Why all this rush to impeachment? It could take months or years to unravel, bit by bit, slowly and calmly, over time. The judicial system grinds slowly.

[cstanleytech]

7. Why the rush? I suspect this might partly be done now political reasons.

By that I mean look at how much the far rights been trying to link Obama and his campaign to this scandal.

[IsItJustMe]

4. This will not be welcomed news for the self rightious hang-em-high folks.

[yellowcanine]

8. Fitzgerald made some major mistakes in this case which will make it more difficult to get a

conviction. For one thing he contaminated the jury by blabbing about the case too much. He should have announced the indictment with a press release and let it go at that.

[gravity]

9. What did you expect his attorney to say?

[Rebubula]

10. Golly

This is surprising...a lawyer making claims of innocence.

:crazy: