Blago Hangs On to Job as Bargaining Chip

Blagojevich holding onto job as bargaining chip
By Gabriel Winant,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 16, 2008 11:55 AM CST
Blago Hangs On to Job as Bargaining Chip
Attorney Ed Genson is seen outside his downtown office building Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, in Chicago. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has retained Genson after Blagojevich was arrested last week on federal charges that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

For Rod Blagojevich, everything is a shakedown. For now, writes Carrie Budoff Brown in Politico, he’s staying in office because it gives him some leverage over his own fate. Though he’s facing near-certain impeachment, that’s a long process. In the meantime, he could trade his resignation for leniency. “He’s in a much better position to make a deal if he was a sitting governor,” says a law professor. “In his position, I would not resign."

Blagojevich could bargain for a shorter sentence or protection for his wife, Budoff Brown notes. There’s technically nothing keeping Blagojevich from holding on to his office until forced out, but it could mean presiding over the legislature voting to impeach him. He could also temporarily hand off power to his lieutenant, but keep his position—and his salary. Says a law professor, “He knows he is going to get voted off the island. It’s just a question of how long he can hold out.” 
(More Rod Blagojevich stories.)

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