CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich will give a statement Friday afternoon, his spokesman Lucio Guerrero said.
Guerrero said the governor - who has faced calls for his resignation since he was arrested on federal corruption charges on December 9 - will speak at the James R. Thompson Center state office building at 2 p.m. (3 p.m. ET) in downtown Chicago.
His attorney, Ed Genson, said Blagojevich will read the statement but will not answer reporter's questions. Genson he did not feel "it was prudent" for the governor to answer questions now.
The governor has not publicly addressed the charges, but told reporters Wednesday he "can't wait to begin to tell my side of the story."
Genson, has said the governor did nothing wrong and does not intend to step down.
Genson contends evidence obtained bugging phones of the Governor's office and home was "illegally obtained" and indicated he is ready to fight possible impeachment proceedings.
Federal prosecutors accuse the governor of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat. They also allege the governor and his former chief of staff, John Harris, were trying to have Chicago Tribune editorial board members fired by leveraging state assistance to the parent company of the newspaper, the Tribune Company, in its sale of Wrigley Field.
Harris, who was also arrested on federal corruption charges, resigned days later.
Members of an Illinois House of Representatives panel met Wednesday to continue their discussions about whether there is a basis to impeach Blagojevich.
Blagojevich's arrest has thrown Illinois politics into chaos. Many of the state's political leaders - including President-elect Barack Obama - have called on the governor to resign.
Updated 12:40 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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From his news conference, he seems to have a persecusion complex.. My god , he's now quoting Rudyard Kipling.
Look at all the neo-con supporters trying to sling the mud at a distant target like Obama. How soon they forget that this past election it was the REPUBLICAN ticket which promoted the candidates who have actually been under formal investigation! For ethics violations no less! The Dems couldn't even sling mud at Palin for Ted Stevens' vile ways because she was caught up in her own scandal!
The arrogance of the American right is astounding. Wake up, take a long panoramic look around and you'll see that every bs partisan argument you make only comes right back at you. Otherwise you might chose on those sour grapes.
HAHA...who cares if Obama's people had contact with this walking sack of crap? They apparently told him he wasn't getting anything in exchange for anything..no quid pro quo. That's what drove him so nuts in the first place: THAT THEY WOULDN'T BEHAVE IN A CORRUPT MANNER LIKE HIM.
All you GOPers out there doing the peepee dance you're so excited over your daydreams that this might haunt Obama...grow up. It's time for you and your party to start paying attention to facts and evidence, even when they're inconvenient for you, instead of trying to fabricate new ones.
Ok you morons... all you have to do is look at the title bar of the internet explorer window to find out how to spell his name.. it's
BLAGOJEVICH... Now you've got 2 points of reference for the spelling.. jesus christ you people are dumb.
Governor Blagojevich has been questionable since the day he became governor!
He is absolutely innocent, and self-sighteous, just like all others politicians, especially those from Chicago, Illinois,
@Lillian:
"Really, cay he be believed his side of story?? WAKE UP! People in Illinois. Do someting you be proud of : REMOVE HIM."
Umm... do you realise the people of illinois cannot remove him? If so it would have been done years ago.
Bruce, like Bush blamed Clinton and the sun for all his failures.
9-11 happened on BUSH watch! Recession happened on BUSH watch!
**Nice try Bruce....BUSH is a loser. Shoe betcha!
Tom Delay was charged with moving money from one campaign fund to another before the 2006 election. He was the Republican House Whip. Apparently when he did this is was not a crime. However, he was charged. He quit the race but was not allowed to remove his name from the ballot. Three years later he has not been brought to trial. As far as dirty dealings are concerned the Republicans are rank amateurs when compared to the Democratic Party
Innocent Until Proven Guilty.... We had a man that ran for office after he was a convicted felon( AL)... Blago's only "Stay out of Jail" card is holding that office... There is a reason we have a Law, court, liars... If he can prove his case, then he his Innocent... No one wants to be illegally bugged ( even though we have no choice).... But he his a public figure, and as many people believe, i think he his unfit to be the Governor in Chi... step aside or Resign...
P.S- I have seen Athletes held to a higher Standard as role Models compared to politicans ... Chuckles * What have we become as a People?!
I am not at all worried what Blagojevich reveals about Obama....which will probably be nothing! These two have as much in common as a cabbage and an orchid! Blagovich has been a terrible governor, but I am convinced Obama will be a great president.
@Reggie:
"Give it up. You're going to jail not back to the governors mansion."
Blagojevich never lived in the governor's mansion. He refused. He would rather spend the taxpayer's money to fly back and forth from Chicago to Springfield.
The years of Good Ole Boy politics are coming to a close... it's going to be very traumatic for a whole lot of these Good Ole Boys!
I can't believe this goober thinks he's going to beat this rap. It's the worst case of hubris I've ever seen. Should be entertaining, though.