This was not a good week for the governor. His top fundraiser and adviser was accused of trading appointments for contributions by his own father-in-law, he was taunted for flip-flopping on banning video games for minors, the Ford Heights landfill that he closed right after he closed his second cousin’s landfill was reopened by a judge, who said he didn’t have the authority to close it, Lisa Madigan’s investigation into his appointment and hiring practices is gearing up, and Mell’s apparently not backing down from a threatened lawsuit by Chris Kelly.

Mell’s lawyer, Paul M. Levy, would not comment on whether the alderman intended to apologize and instead seemed primed for a legal fight — stating in a letter to Clifford that Mell said nothing defamatory because Kelly is a public figure immersed in a public controversy.

“If they choose to litigate the matter, it will be vigorously defended,” Levy told the Sun-Times. “I’m not going to lay out my defense strategy. Just say it will be vigorously defended for a variety of reasons we feel to be good and sufficient.”

If Kelly doesn’t file the suit, he’ll look guilty, no matter how much he vigorously protests his innocence.

“If he doesn’t go to you, the media, in some fashion, whether it be in person or in writing, to acknowledge these remarks were baseless and not within his personal knowledge, then litigation for defamation will follow,” said Clifford, who has given the governor’s campaign $328,755.

But even if he does file the suit, there are already problems brewing.

Republicans pounced on Kelly and Clifford’s maneuver, accusing them of trying to steamroll Mell, who figures to be a pivotal witness in the Madigan-Devine inquiry.

“Intimidation during an ongoing criminal investigation is very disturbing. They’re acting like they have something to hide,” said Illinois Republican Party spokesman Jason Gerwig, referring to Kelly and his lawyer.

And if he files the suit and loses… oh, my.