Blagojevich Unable To Recieve Funding For Public Defense
You're reading Blagojevich Unable To Recieve Funding For Public Defense, posted on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 3:18 pm in News, on BrainBloggers at the Talking Politics blog. More after the jump.
Lisa Madigan – attorney general – denied the request by Governor Rod Blagojevich’s attorney that would require the state to pay for the defense for his impeachment. Ed Genson sent a letter Tuesday that stated that the state has been, “charged with a duty to defend all actions and proceedings against any State officer.”
Madigan responded back in a letter today that this is only true when the officer needs legal defense in his official capacity. “That is not the case in a criminal suit, which is a proceeding against a person as an individual,” Ms. Madigan wrote. “It is absurd to suggest that taxpayers must finance the defense of a criminal action against Governor Blagojevich who is accused of corruptly betraying the public trust for personal and financial gain.”
The fact that she denied this offer has put even more pressure on Blagojevich. Already federal officers have begun to freeze his campaign fund money. In June Blagojevich’s friends had $3,611,654.43 available.
Madigan requested last week that the Illinois Supreme Court remove Blagojevich temporarily because he has been disabled and unable to perform his responsibilities as governor. The court has rejected this offer – but would not state why.