December 11, 2008

CHICAGO -- The embattled governor of Illinois on Wednesday ignored President-elect Barack Obama's call for him to resign, clinging defiantly to power a day after he was arrested and accused of trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat. Gov. Rod Blagojevich was released on bond and reported to work Wednesday after his Tuesday arrest by the FBI.

His spokeswoman called the work day "business as usual," but there was mounting pressure on the unpopular governor. Everyone is calling for his head," said Barbara Flynn Currie, a leader in the Illinois state House of Representatives and, like the governor, a Democrat. Obama, who came up in the rough world of Chicago politics, has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the scandal, but it could prove to be a headache for him as he begins his presidency on Jan. 20.

Obama joined other prominent Democrats from his state in calling for Blagojevich's resignation. "The president-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. (Pat) Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in response to questions from The Associated Press.

Obama resigned from the U.S. Senate after his election Nov. 4. In excerpts of wiretapped conversations released by prosecutors, Blagojevich appears to be scheming to enrich himself by offering to sell the seat for campaign cash or a lucrative job inside or outside government. The governor is traditionally tasked with filling a vacant Senate seat, but Senate Democrats warned Wednesday that they would not let that happen.