*** UPDATE 1 - 11:23 am *** Sam Adam, Jr.’s closing statement is proceeding just about as we’d expect…

Adam’s statement is being continuously objected to by gov’t, and Zagel is sustaining. Zagel tells him to be “more precise.”

*** UPDATE 2 - 11:28 am *** More from Sam, Jr…

Sam Adam Jr. cranks up the volume right from the start, telling jurors in his closing argument that he decided not to put Rod Blagojevich on the stand — despite his promise that he would — because the government didn’t prove its case against him.

It’s what he refers to as the “big pink elephant in the room.”

“I promised each and every single one of you that Rod was going to get up there and take the stand,” Adam says. And at opening statement I gave you my word and I meant every word of it,” he says. “I had no idea no idea that in two months of trial (the government) would prove nothing.”

He argues that the government proved the defense’s case — that Patti got paid for legitimate work she did for Tony Rezko, that “Rod didn’t take a dime,” that government witness Lon Monk pocketed envelopes of cash from Rezko.

*** UPDATE 3 - 11:49 am *** Buddy Holly?…

Sam Adam Jr. briefly focuses on testimony of Bob Greenlee, Blago’s former deputy governor.

“He looked like Tom Arnold and Buddy Holly had a baby … remember those glasses?” Adam says, recalling Greenlee’s thick plastic frames. A female juror in front row crosses her arms and can’t suppress a smile.

“He took more than $100,000 a year to advise this man … and what does he come in here and tell you? Ridiculousness,” Adam says. “The most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard before: ‘Yes, I said those things, yes, I gave you encouragement… you know why? Because I was trying to disagree by agreeing.’ Who are you kidding?”

Adam is referring to Greenlee’s testimony that he told the ex-governor what he wanted to hear - that placating his boss was often easier than arguing with him.

*** UPDATE 4 - 12:11 pm *** SAJ states the obvious…

Ripping apart prosecution witnesses, Adam says to #Blagojevich, “You’ve got absolutely horrible judgment on people.”

Also, make sure to head to the Sun-Times’ Blago Blog for some pretty funny stuff.

*** UPDATE 5 - 12:18 pm *** Yikes…

18 times: Number of objections from prosecution on SAJr’s closing argument in defense of #Blagojevich

[ *** End of Updates ***]

* After all the hooplah late yesterday when Sam Adam, Jr. vowed to risk a contempt of court citation and jail time for insisting on pointing to the absence of Tony Rezko and other witnesses the prosecution didn’t call, we have this short report from inside this morning’s hearing…

Zagel to #Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Jr: “To put you at ease, Mr. Adam, jail is not in the picture and never was in the picture.”

And…

Zagel to #Blagojevich atty Sam Jr: “I don’t know where they lock up lawyers who make objectionable statements, but we don’t do it here.”

* Background…

Prosecutors had mentioned some of those witnesses, including convicted fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, in their closing argument, and Adam argued the defense should be able to do the same.

“Your honor, I have a man here that is fighting for his life,” Adam said, turning red and raising his hands.

Zagel responded: “You will follow that order because if you don’t follow that order you will be in contempt of court.”

“I’m willing to go to jail on this,” Adam shot back.

Zagel said he was giving Adam the night to rework his closing arguments, given his “profound misunderstanding of legal rules.” He said Adam could designate another defense attorney to give the closing if he couldn’t follow the rules.

More…

“The jury has to decide based on evidence,” Zagel ruled, “and the fact that someone wasn’t called isn’t evidence.”

Adam raised objections, as the lack of testimony was expected to be a cornerstone of his closing to cast doubts on the government case against disgraced former governor Rod Blagojevich and his fundraiser brother Robert Blagojevich.

“You will not argue it. You will argue evidence,” Zagel insisted.

He said other legal jurisdictions might permit the tactic where if “the law’s against you (and) the evidence is against you, then attack the opposing lawyer,” but federal court and his courtroom do not.

“I can’t follow your order,” Adam said.

“You will follow that order,” Zagel replied. “Because if you don’t, you’ll be in contempt of court.”

* Possible motives for the Adam outburst…

Presuming they weren’t the signs of a meltdown, experts say Adam Jr.’s histrionics at the end of court Monday ultimately proved to be an unwieldy way of accomplishing two simple goals:

1. Stall for time so that he could give his entire closing argument on the same day.

2. Lay the groundwork for an appeal.

* Roundup…

* Blagojevich trial: Day 28 Closings or contempt?

* Blagojevich trial: Judge, attorney clash; jury sent home

* Dull, odd day in Blagojevich trial ends in drama

* Adam Jr., Zagel showdown a long time coming

* Blagojevich lawyer may be muzzled

* Judge Zagel, Blagojevich Attorney Clash Again

* Kadner: Will Adam risk contempt in Defense of Blago?

* Sneed: Berliant snuck into Blagojevich trial

* Blagojevich trial: Blagojevich daughters join parents in the courthouse for closing arguments

* Bring your daughters to court day

* Trial becomes family outing

* Why did they bring the kids to court?

* Roeper: Why would Blagojevich put kids in line of fire?

* Kass: Blagojevich uses kids for sympathy from jury

* Zorn: Really, Rod and Patti? The kids?

* Undecided Blagojevich Jurors Might Be Annoyed by Family

* Walking jurors through the Blagojevich maze

* Can Rod Muster 12 More Votes?

* Blagojevich trial: Ex-governor expressionless as government begins closing statement

* Blagojevich trial: What the prosecution is trying to do

* Blagojevich Prosecution: “Talking is the Crime”

* Prosecutors on case: “The law doesn’t require you to be a successful crook, it just requires you to be a crook.”

* Prosecutor in closing argument: Crimes didn’t have to be successful for ex-governor to be guilty

* Prosecutor: Case is “simple” — governor can’t exchange state action for personal benefit. “You do — that’s a bribe.”

* Prosecutor in closing argument: “In politics, money is power”

* Spotlight on brother

* Prosecutor to jury: Robert Blagojevich lied to you; you heard him “dancing and dodging”

* Tiptoeing around the profanity

* Government wraps up closing argument; Urges jury to find Blagojevich brothers guilty on all counts

* Final message: Don’t miss the forest for the trees

* Robert Blagojevich was an innocent bystander, lawyer says

* Defense attorney: Robert Blagojevich a “person of honor”

* Lawyer: Robert just didn’t want Rod to get in trouble

* Robert Blagojevich attorney: You can’t get convicted for talking

* Robert Blagojevich attorney to jury: You heard the government prove my client is innocent

* Robert Blagojevich closing ends

* Blagojevich jurors’ names stay under wraps

* Blagojevich’s Elvis statue may be auctioned off

* Blago’s Stuff Heads to Auction

* Blagojevich storage items in Arlington Hts. may be auctioned