Blagojevich to Speak This Afternoon

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) will speak publicly this afternoon for the first time since being arrested on charges of trying to sell off an open Senate seat, Chicago news outlets reported Friday.

The governor, embattled by calls to resign and impeachment proceedings in the state’s legislature, will hold a 3 p.m. EST (2:00 local time) press conference–his first major public appearance since being arrested.

According to Chicago Breaking News, Blagojevich will speak from the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago.

Blagojevich has been accused of seeking political or financial favors in exchange for his appointment to fill the vacancy in the Senate from Illinois. That opening was created after President-elect Obama resigned his Senate seat upon winning the presidential election.