Gov: I'm not 'Public Official A'

DEKALB -- Gov. Blagojevich on Wednesday refused to acknowledge he is "Public Official A," the person who stood to gain from an alleged pay-to-play extortion plot that is the centerpiece of indicted fund-raiser Tony Rezko's upcoming corruption trial.

Blagojevich's refusal came after U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve publicly identified the governor Monday as the "Public Official A" in Rezko court documents. It also comes 29 months after the Chicago Sun-Times was the first to publicly identify Blagojevich as "Public Official A."

"My reaction is it doesn't matter what letter of the alphabet it is. What was described there doesn't describe me or how I do things," Blagojevich said.

Pressed on the question, he said, "I am not involved in this court case. I don't know much about it. I have a job to do as governor. It's a full-time job. I don't think it's fair to comment on a pending court case."

Blagojevich's refusal to fess up to being "Public Official A" drew ridicule, scorn and laughter from some of his critics in Springfield.

"To continue to deny he's Public Official A after the judge in the case has publicly confirmed he is is tantamount to lunacy," said Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock).