Back to work, not to normal

Gov. Rod Blagojevich defiantly struggled to project the illusion of "business as usual" a day after he was arrested on stunning corruption charges - holing up in his Chicago office as calls for his resignation grew louder and his inner circle began to crumble.

Adding to the weight of endless demands for Blagojevich to step down, President-elect Barack Obama called on the two-term Democrat to resign Wednesday.

Just a day after saying he wasn't going to comment on the ongoing criminal investigation, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president-elect believes "it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois."

Regardless, the governor remained steadfast in his refusal to turn his office over to Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn or personally address the public.

Spokesmen said the governor was "upbeat and positive" and it was "business as usual" in his office at the Thompson Center.

Blagojevich was driven to work by his state security detail at about 9 a.m. and driven away in the early evening, hordes of news cameras and reporters tracking his every move. He arrived back at his Chicago home at about 7:45 p.m.

Meanwhile, one of Blagojevich's top staffers, Deputy Gov. Bob Greenlee, resigned. Greenlee, identified in the federal criminal complaint only as "Deputy Governor A," is alleged to have been involved in Blagojevich's efforts to get editorial employees at the Chicago Tribune fired in exchange for state help in selling Wrigley Field.

Greenlee's attorney, David Stetler, declined to comment on the investigation, but he said his client is "focused on trying to do the right thing."

The resignation was one public sign of the inevitable upheaval taking place in the Blagojevich administration after the governor's arrest on charges he tried to sell a U.S. Senate seat, state grants to a children's hospital, tollway work and legislation for personal gain - all of it caught on tape by investigators in recent weeks.

Blagojevich has been free on bond since Tuesday afternoon, when he appeared in court wearing a jogging suit, a sign of his early morning arrest by FBI agents. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. His attorney said he did nothing wrong.

Fallout from the sweeping scandal continues.

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said Wednesday he has agreed to talk to federal investigators about his interactions with Blagojevich as he lobbied in recent weeks to win an appointment to Obama's Senate seat.

In government recordings, Blagojevich says Jackson, named as "Senate Candidate 5" in the criminal complaint against the governor, might be willing to pay cash to win the appointment.

Jackson said Wednesday he has been told he is not a target of the investigation and he denied any wrongdoing.

Tribune executive Sam Zell told media outlets Wednesday he has been contacted by FBI agents related to the investigation, but he declined to elaborate. Tribune officials have said their actions in requesting state help with selling Wrigley Field were "appropriate."

At the same time, Obama critics continue to raise questions about the president-elect's role in any proposed deal-making over his vacant Senate seat, which Blagojevich is accused of trying to auction off for a high-paying job, campaign cash or a federal appointment.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald stressed Tuesday that Obama is not accused of any wrongdoing by his office. In a brief appearance that day, Obama said he didn't have any knowledge about negotiations over the appointment.

Obama is set to hold a news conference Thursday morning in Chicago on health care.

Illinois lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are expected to move in the coming weeks to discuss impeaching the governor if he doesn't resign.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has said if that effort isn't successful, she may ask the Illinois Supreme Court to remove Blagojevich from office.

Lawmakers are set to return to the state Capitol on Monday to consider both impeachment proceedings and stripping the governor's power to appoint someone to fill the remaining two years in Obama's term.

Such a move may prompt a special election, and potential candidates are already lining up.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois circulated a letter on Capitol Hill pointing out it would be more "expeditious" if the seat were filled by an appointment from Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn should he take office if Blagojevich resigns or is removed.

The letter threatens to not seat a senator picked by Blagojevich.

Wednesday was the governor's 52nd birthday. On Thursday, he will undoubtedly awake to find reporters outside his North Side home and little relief from the calls for resignation.

"I just can't imagine what he is going through," said former Gov. Jim Edgar, a Republican who has called for Blagojevich to step down. "I think for most of us - it would kill us. I think he marches to a different drummer than I do."

• Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.

Work: Senators call for choice from Quinn

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul class="morePdf"> <li><a href="/pdf/pressrelease.pdf">Press release of Blagojevich arrest</a></li> <li><a href="/pdf/complaint.pdf">Full text of complaint</a></li> <li><a href="/pdf/govstatement.pdf">Statement from governor's office</a></li> </ul> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/packages/2008/blagojevich/">Complete coverage of Blagojevich investigation</a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=1210dv_pol_il_blagojevich&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Blago back to work </a></li> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=4&type=video&item=42">Announcement of Blagojevich charges</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=1209dv_pol_il_gov_arrest&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Blagojevich Arrested in Obama Senate Seat Scheme </a></li> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=1209dv_obama_blagojevich&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Obama: 'Saddened' by Blagojevich Allegations </a></li> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=1209dv_pol_il_gov_arrested&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Illinois Governor Arrested on Federal Charges </a></li> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=1209dv_il_gov_arrest&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Feds Bugged Blagojevich's Office, Home </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>