Blagojevich talks to high-profile lawyer

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Saturday met with a renowned Chicago criminal lawyer as he weighed his legal options. The Democrat had a four-hour meeting with Ed Genson in the lawyer's downtown office. Genson has defended newspaper baron Conrad Black, R&B singer R. Kelly and numerous public figures on corruption charges, earning a reputation as the lawyer that all the big shots call when they get in a bind in Chicago.

Blagojevich has brushed back calls for his resignation after he was charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. The state attorney general on Friday went before the state Supreme Court to argue that he is unfit to lead and should be forced out of office.

Some observers speculated that Blagojevich might be trying to leverage the governorship to his advantage in his criminal case -- just like prosecutors said he did with the Senate seat for financial gain. Others suggested his refusal to resign is more rooted in his ego than anything else. "You would think he would see his life collapsing around him," said Chicago defense lawyer John Beal, who was in the courtroom with Blagojevich last week and noted how carefree he seemed. "But he was the center of attention and seemed to love it."