Blagojevich to appear in ABC interviews

CHICAGO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to conduct his first nationally broadcast interviews Monday, the day his impeachment trial begins in the state Senate.

Blagojevich is set to appear live Monday morning on ABC's "Good Morning America," followed by an appearance with his wife, Patti, on the daytime talk show "The View," the Washington publication Politico reported Saturday.

The appearances coincide with the beginning the embattled governor's impeachment trial in the Illinois State Senate in Springfield, which he has said he will not attend as a protest against what he says is an unfair procedure.

Blagojevich was arrested by FBI agents Dec. 9 on a criminal complaint charging corruption, including putting President Barack Obama's then-vacant U.S. Senate seat up for sale for his personal gain. The Illinois House voted 114-1 to impeach him.

Meanwhile, Blagojevich's lead attorney in his battle against a host of federal corruption charges filed against him, Ed Genson, is leaving the case, WLS-TV, Chicago, reported. The station said it wasn't clear if Genson's departure was because he disagreed with Blagojevich's decisions to launch a media campaign to garner public support.

"I believe in this case it would be better off and I intend to withdraw as counsel in this case. I wish the governor good luck and Godspeed and I have nothing further to say," Genson told reporters Friday.