Madigan withdraws as attorney for governor in records case

July 27, 2007 5:54 PM ET

Associated Press -

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan withdrew as lawyer for Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vitch) today in a fight over making federal subpoenas public.

A spokeswoman says Madigan believes the attorney general should be the governor's lawyer. But she wants the case over subpoenas to be resolved quickly.

Two public watchdog groups sued Blagojevich to get copies of federal subpoenas he's received in an investigation of hiring for state jobs.

But a Sangamon County judge in April ruled Madigan could not defend Blagojevich in 1 of the lawsuits because she earlier said the governor was wrong to deny public access to the subpoenas. She appealed.

Madigan filed papers in Cook County today to withdraw from a case brought by the group Judicial Watch. She will file similar papers next week in a lawsuit by the Better Government Association.

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