Illinois court refuses request to temporarily remove Blagojevich

Chicago: The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a request to temporarily remove Governor Rod Blagojevich from office in light of charges he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

The ruling, issued without comment, came as Blagojevich began fighting efforts in the state legislature to impeach him.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan had asked the court to use a never tested provision allowing the governor to be removed for disability, saying that the charges against him placed him in that category.

"Because of Governor Blagojevich's refusal to resign, the state of Illinois is in an unsustainable situation," Madigan said in a statement after the Supreme Court decision.

Blagojevich and his chief of staff were charged on Dec. 9 with conspiracy to bribe in a scheme to swap political favors, including choice of Obama's replacement, for cash, high-paying jobs or other considerations. They have not been indicted and the governor through his lawyers has denied any wrongdoing.

Blagojevich will not make an appointment because Senate Democrats have said they will not seat anyone he chooses, the Chicago Tribune said his lawyer said