Enlarge By Verna Sadock, AP Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, center, his Chief of Staff John Harris, left, and federal prosecutor Reid Schar, right, stand in court Tuesday after Blagojevich and Harris were arrested on corruption charges. THE BLAGOJEVICH FILE THE BLAGOJEVICH FILE Blagojevich Age: 52. Born Dec. 10, 1956. Home: Chicago. Family: Wife, Patricia; two daughters Education: Northwestern University, graduated in 1979; Pepperdine University, law degree, 1983. Experience: Elected Illinois governor in 2002, re-elected in 2006; served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 5th District from 1997-2002; served in the Illinois House from a North Side Chicago district from 1992-1996; assistant Cook County state's attorney. Quote: "I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly. I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful." Enlarge By Mark Carlson, AP Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, center, leaves his home through a back alley Wednesday a day after he was arrested on federal corruption charges. CHICAGO  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Thursday she was ready to take action to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office following his arrest on corruption charges. She said her options included asking the Illinois Supreme Court to declare Blagojevich unable to serve and put in Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn as acting governor. "I am prepared to take action," Madigan said in an interview on CNN. CHICAGO: Blot on pride POLITICS BLOG: Latest developments in corruption case FUTURE: What scandal might mean for Obama Senate seat "The easiest way for us to move on in the state of Illinois is for Governor Blagojevich to do the right thing for the people and to resign," she said. "Now, it doesn't appear that he has any inclination to do that. Maybe things will change today or tomorrow." Madigan said she "won't wait terribly long." The attorney general was among a growing number of Illinois politicians trying to force the governor to step down and to strip him of the power to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Legislative leaders have called a special session for Monday to authorize a special election. Blagojevich was charged Tuesday with trying to sell the Senate seat, soliciting money from people with state business and pressing the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers who had criticized him. Sheldon Sorosky, Blagojevich's lawyer, said Tuesday that the governor did nothing wrong. Quinn, the lieutenant governor, said he believes that the embattled governor will step down. "If the governor doesn't act he will be impeached," Quinn told NBC's "Today" program. Quinn also said that if he is installed in the office, he may pick someone to fill the vacated seat rather than wait for a special election. On Tuesday, a spokesman for Obama said the president-elect believes that Blagojevich should step down Also on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. denied involvement in the governor's alleged attempt to sell the open Senate seat. Jackson, son of the civil rights leader and one of several Illinois Democrats vying for the job, told reporters in Washington on Wednesday he did not offer to raise money for the governor in exchange for the Senate appointment. James Montgomery Sr., Jackson's lawyer, confirmed Jackson is "Senate Candidate 5." The criminal complaint cites a conversation between Blagojevich and aides in which the governor says "Candidate 5" sent an intermediary to make the offer. "I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing," Jackson said. He said federal prosecutors told him he is not a target of the investigation. CORRUPT STATES: North Dakota leads in conviction rate Fallout from the case: • Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also called on the governor to resign and refrain from naming anyone to the vacant seat. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in a letter, warned the Senate might refuse to seat a Blagojevich appointee. Durbin wants the state Legislature to call a special election, even though it gives the GOP a chance at the seat. • Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan said Obama "should immediately disclose" communications between his transition team and the governor's office. "Obama's promise of transparency … is now being tested," he said. "This Blagojevich scandal opens up a bonanza of opportunities for Republicans in Illinois," said retiring Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill. Obama has said he had no contact with Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. His adviser, David Axelrod, said last month that Obama did speak to Blagojevich about the vacancy but on Tuesday stated he was mistaken and that Obama never spoke "directly" to the governor. • Blagojevich, released on his own recognizance at a court appearance Tuesday, went to work at his downtown office. • Bob Greenlee resigned as a deputy governor. The complaint against Blagojevich identifies "Deputy Governor A" as someone who was deeply involved in a scheme to strong-arm the Tribune. Greenlee's attorney, when asked whether his client was the deputy governor, did not dispute it. David Stetler told the Associated Press the reason behind Greenlee's resignation "should be obvious." Contributing: Mimi Hall in Chicago; Kathy Kiely in Washington; the Associated Press. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more