Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is being accused of trying to sell the senate seat once held by presidential-elect Obama, prayed with several ministers in his home before heading to his office last Friday, telling them he is innocent and will be vindicated "when you hear each chapter completely written," according to one of the pastors.
The governor has been holed up in his home or his downtown office since his arrest last Tuesday on federal corruption charges. According to an article by Don Babwin (ArticlesofInfo.com), Rev. Ira Acree of the Greater St. John Bible Church - who said he initiated the contact - said Blagojevich would not discuss details of the allegations against him.
He said the governor discussed trying to get a legal and political consultation team in place, but feels as if everything is closing in on him and that he's not getting "any space or chance to sort anything out."
Acree and two other pastors, the Rev. Steve Jones, president of the Baptist Pastor's Conference and the Rev. Marshall Hatch of the New Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, arrived at the governor's home shortly after 8 a.m. and met with him for about 20 minutes. Jones said they prayed with Blagojevich and his family.
"I look at it like this: Everybody that's hurting needs hope and the family needs hope and that's what our jobs are as pastors," Jones said. "Nobody should be left hopeless. Nobody. No matter what the circumstances."
On Monday, Blagojevich, who has ignored strident calls to resign from Obama and virtually every lawmaker in the state, defiantly signed 11 bills into law — including one mentioned in the 76-page FBI complaint against him.
Ed Genson, a bulldog defense attorney hired by Blagojevich, said the embattled Democrat would not step down that, "He hasn't done anything wrong." (Source: Christian Post/ArticlesofInfo.com)