In a brief appearance -- 2 minutes and 59 seconds to be exact -- before assembled media in Chicago, embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted that he is "not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing," that he will "fight every step of the way" and that he is not going to quit the job voters elected him to do.

He took no questions.

Blagojevich was arrested last week on federal corruption charges, based on taped conversations via wiretaps. High on the list of charges is that the governor was trying to sell the now-vacated Senate seat of Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Today's comments were the first public remarks Blagojevich made since the arrest. Here's what he said, according to my notes: "I'm here to tell you I'm not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing ... I will fight every step of the way ... I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath ... I'm not going to quit a job the people hired me to do ... a political lynch mob ... I'm dying to show how innocent I am ... I intend to answer every allegation in the appropriate forum, in a court of law ... I am absolutely certain I will be vindicated."

Then he quoted Rudyard Kipling.

And then he continued: "I have the personal knowledge I have done nothing wrong. ... I ask the people of Illinois to reserve judgment."

And with that, he wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

categories: Crime And Punishment

3:13 - December 19, 2008

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