Obama row governor refuses to quit
US governor charged over Obama senate seat claims says he has done “nothing wrong”.
“I intend to stay on the job. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight.
“I’m dying to answer these charges … I intend to answer every allegation that comes my way … in the appropriate forum – a court of law.”
Prosecutors have built their case on evidence gained through recording Blagojevich’s conversations.
Calls for resignation
Obama and other political figures have called on Blagojevich to resign following his arrest.
The president-elect vacated the seat after winning November’s presidential election.
But the post is likely to remain empty when the new US congress convenes in January as Blagojevich’s lawyer has said the governor would not exercise his power to fill the vacancy while the legal proceedings against him are active.
Sam Adam Junior, one of the governor’s lawyers, said on Friday that Blagojevich may step aside if the proceedings affect the people of Illinois.
In such a case the lieutenant governor could make the senate appointment.
The Democrats, who control the state legislature, have initiated impeachment proceedings against the 52-year-old which could take months.