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* UPDATED x2 * Former aides burying Blagojevich - And a doomed defense strategy

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Blagojevich Trial

*** UPDATE 1 - 1:52 pm *** Former chief of staff John Harris destroys Rod Blagojevich’s alibi that he wanted to appoint Lisa Madigan to the vacant US Senate seat in order to pass the long-stalled capital bill and his healthcare reforms…

Harris and Rod are heard discussing leaking a potential Lisa Madigan appointment to Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed.

John Harris explains from the stand: “Michael Sneed is a woman who writes a political gossip column for a local paper — a page that a lot of politicians read before the sports.”

Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton asked, then, if Harris and Rod were talking about leaking “false information” to Sneed.

“Yes,” Harris testified.

*** UPDATE 2 - 3:30 pm *** And there goes the rest of the Lisa alibi…

Prosecutors play yet another tape, this one happened the morning of the presidential election — Nov. 4, 2008.

The senate seat is discussed at length and Rod Blagojevich can be heard talking about making a “tactical play,” involving Lisa Madigan. The play at one point involved pretending he would appoint the Illinois Attorney General to the Senate seat, but really, he’d appoint himself.

The discussion was a strategy session. Blagojevich and Harris were trying to navigate talks with the Obama camp over the senate seat appointment. But they believed Rahm Emanuel and others were acting “cryptic.” They discussed floating other options as real possibilities to force Obama’s camp to talk straight, according to Harris.

Blagojevich on tape: “We need to think about a tactical play…we gotta figure out a Madigan play.”
Blagojevich said they had Illinois Senate President Emil Jones as a “fallback” for an appointment, but “the best he can do for me is raise money.”

Blagojevich also is heard telling Harris maybe they should work the Madigan angle and then: “I end up using my ace in the hole and I send myself.”

[ *** End of Updates *** ]

* They’re doing him in but good. As we learned yesterday, former deputy governor Bradley Tusk helped seal Rod Blagojevich’s coffin…

Tusk said while he was deputy governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich told him he wanted a message delivered to then-U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel: A $2 million grant for the Chicago Academy, a school in Emanuel’s district, was on hold unless his brother, Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, held a fund-raiser.

Ari is the inspiration for the “Entourage” characte, Ari Gold.

Tusk said he didn’t deliver the message but called Blagojevich’s lawyer to tell him: “You need to get your client under control.”

Former chief of staff John Harris also did him in…

Emanuel wanted to know where the money was; Tusk told Harris that the governor would not approve the release of funds. So, Harris testified, he spoke to the governor.

“He seemed to be familiar with it and told me not to approve the release of funds, that he had not approved the release of funds,” Harris said. […]

Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton asked if this was the way grant money was usually doled out.

“No, the process was not typical and quite involved,” Harris said. “I didn’t experience that process again.”

More…

Rod Blagojevich told his top aide to cut off two firms, including CitiBank, from state business as retaliation for not giving his wife a job, former chief of staff John Harris has testified. […]

When Harris later learned CitiBank was in line to win a major state deal, he said he purposely kept Blagojevich in the dark.

More…

Former Blago chief of staff John Harris has just given testimony that backs up what Lon Monk told the court earlier this month — that in 2008, Blagojevich was in cahoots with then-state senate Pres. Emil Jones to kill an ethics bill that would have seriously hindered the governor’s fund-raising efforts. […]

“[Blagojevich] thought Emil would hold because he knew something we didn’t,” Harris testified. “He told us that Emil Jones wanted (Barack Obama’s) senate seat” and wouldn’t go back on his “pledge.”

Jones, though, did succumb to political and public pressure and called the bill.

“No way he’s getting the seat now,” Harris said Blagojevich told him.

* The judge is smacking down the defense lawyers on a regular basis now…

It’s getting to the point where [prosecutor Reid Schar] doesn’t even speak to object — he just stands up.

“Objection sustained,” Judge Zagel continues, time after time.

And…

Sam Adam Sr., the storied trial lawyer, ran aground as he asked Johnston about his relationship with deceased fundraiser Chris Kelly.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Zagel said after sustaining another objection from the prosecution.

Adam apologized to the judge and moved on, but Zagel’s impatience with the defense team’s tactics did not let up.

Defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky encountered more than 20 objections during his cross examination of Tusk.

* And I really doubt that this defense tactic will work…

Answering questions from prosecutor Reid Schar, Tusk said that at the start of Blagojevich’s first term, the governor came into the office regularly. But his attendance dropped off within a few months. So when the constitutional deadline for acting on legislation drew near, Tusk said, he sometimes had to track Blagojevich down to get an answer, one time meeting the governor at his tailor’s. Other times, Tusk said, he just couldn’t get a hold of his boss, and had to personally decide whether to sign a bill or veto it.

Seeming to respond to this testimony, Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky described Blagojevich as a “big picture guy and not a nitty-gritty detail guy,” an observation Tusk agreed with. This makes the point to the jury that Blagojevich left these “detail[s]” (like which bills to sign, apparently) to his aide. That, in turn, furthers a defense that Sorosky acknowledged in open court earlier Monday: that bad acts may have been committed by some people in the governor’s office, but not by the governor himself. “That undoubtedly is a substantial potion of the defense,” Sorosky told Judge James Zagel.

The reason it won’t work is simple. Rod wasn’t much of a governor, but the tapes clearly show that he was intimately involved with all sorts of nefarious details and was actually leading the parade.

* Related…

* Patti drops suit over remarks about e-mail list

* Patti Blagojevich drops defamation lawsuit

* Ex-aide: Blaojevich told me to shake down Rahm

* Ex-aide: Blagojevich sought to pressure Emanuel

* Emanuel defended Blagojevich, then sought grant

* Documents: Emanuel tried to swap favors with Blagojevich

* Another Blagojevich Chief of Staff Takes the Stand

* Tusk Details Blagojevich’s Emanuel Ultimatum

* Track owner recalls alleged shakedown for Blagojevich donation

* Blagojevich witness says he was victim of shakedown

* Key prosecution witness on stand on Blago trial

* Key wiretaps could be played today in Blago trial

* Blagojevich trial: Day 12 — tapes today — and recap

* Taming the Blagojevich Trial Circus

* The same defense with a new ‘do

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:34 am

Comments

I thought one of the most interesting nuggets from Tusk’s testimony was that he actually had to sign bills for the governor when Rod wasn’t around. I’d sure like to know which bills were signed this way, because I think someone might have a case to challenge those laws.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:40 am
47th ward brings up an interesting point. If I were defending someone who was facing a criminal charge on a new law, I would go after Tusk to find out what he signed.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:48 am
It’s nice to see that the defense is being reduced by their own actions and that the Judge isn’t putting up with the ‘Circus’ as it’s been called.

Sam and Blago might have had an entertaining sideshow, but now that they are in the bigtop, it appears they were just smoke and mirrors.

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:51 am
Did the defense didn’t question Tusk as to what Tusk did to get money flowing between the Bloomberg and Blago campaigns? It might have helped the defense show that such “deals” were common, and benefited more people than Blago, including his so-called “aide.”

Comment by chicago publius Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:52 am
publius, give it up, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:54 am
After Monday and today, I think even Neil Steinberg can see the Gov did indeed engage in criminal acts

Comment by Red Ranger Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:55 am
I would like to know why this man was governor for so long before anyone working with him started to tell the public. I’d like to know why important people covered for Rod Blagojevich when it was clear he wasn’t worthy of a 24 hour term, let alone a six year multiple terms.

How could anyone in Chicago or Springfield allow this human scumbag to occupy the Office without raising objections?

How could this man be renominated? How low are powerful people willing to go to keep in power? At what costs to Illinois did they place their personal careers over us? Does anyone take their oath of office seriously?

Illinois needs to replace everyone involved in this historic tragedy remaining in public office.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:04 pm
===Sam and Blago might have had an entertaining sideshow, but now that they are in the bigtop, it appears they were just smoke and mirrors. ====

The judge isn’t letting the defense ask hardly any questions. If they deviate even a smidgen from the prosecutions case the judge sustains the objection. He has constantly told the defense that their time will come when they present their own case and they can recall all these witnesses and ask their questions then.
That is when the show will begin.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:11 pm
But Patti’s hair is now the bigger story.

Comment by Wacker Drive Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:16 pm
I really think Blago believed the Adams’ song and dance routine would work. Not sure who was more deluded - him or Sam Jr.

Comment by Berkeley Bear Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:25 pm
===That is when the show will begin. ===

Only if they put on a defense.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:29 pm
It’s amazing to see the divergence between the public spin and the legal defense. Rod has been claiming for years to be a tireless advocate for the people, as if he were personally down in the trenches everyday working hard to get things done. Now we hear that he was always more of a “big picture” guy who left the actual work of governing to unsupervised subordinates. Which is it, Rod??

BTW – even if it does absolve him of the criminal charges, this defense completely shreds any hope the man has of any sort of political vindication. He can’t exactly turn around now and say ‘hey, I shouldn’t have been impeached because all the corruption was done by my appointees and staff, and I wasn’t around often enough to know what they were doing.’

Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:30 pm
One report said the jury looks bored. I wonder if most are even understanding a lot of this.

It’s all about the closing argument way down the road.

Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:41 pm
VM, Mr. Tusk wrote many an op-ed in the SJ-R trumpeting Blago’s awesomeness and accomplishments. Mr. Tusk also remained fairly silent when he left for New York. That is but one example of how pretty much everyone remained quiet - until Blago’s fall from grace, of course.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:41 pm
We all knew Rod would go down, but the big question is who was going to get taken out in the crossfire. I find it odd an upstanding guy like Rahm wouldn’t blow the whistle on this extortion scheme.

Perhaps this is why the story that Rahm was out by the end of the year broke last week? We’ll break a story to let everyone know he is out in case he gets caught up in the trial so it looks like he was gone anyway. Newflash. These people are all over Quinn and Obama’s administration and if you think Rahm will be the only one tangled up, think again.

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:41 pm
47th and One Man: if you treat Tusk’s action as a nullity because he was not authorized to sign on behalf of the Governor–which is a questionable assumption without more, then the bills would have become law after 60 days of “no action” in any event. The more interesting legal question, making the assumption above, is the status of the bills that were vetoed.

Comment by Madame Defarge Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:42 pm
Madame Defarge is likely correct.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:45 pm
So, Mr. Patriot…just who will become “tangled up?” Or is your statement just more empty right-wing rhetoric? Please, name some names….just who is going down? Besides Rahm, of course.

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 12:54 pm
Patriot, from 2003 through 2006, Rahm was head of the DCCC. As silly as it may seem, he needed to keep quiet about Blago’s act or else he could have jeopardized his party’s chances of retaking the U.S. House. I’m sure some wonder why I typed that. It’s simple. Rahm & now-Speaker Pelosi harped on ethics and reform. A revelation of Rahm being involved in a shakedown - whether or not he had any fault - would have made the DCCC chair look like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 1:16 pm
It will be really funny when Rod walks and this disgusting conglomeration of rats sit in the federal can serving their plea bargained time. The defense really doesn’t have to put on a case unless you take the testimony of these scumbags as “evidence”. What crime happened? Where is the evidence that a crime happened? Why didn’t Tusk get charged if he participated in this so called conspiracy? I’m really sick of all this over reach by the USA. Super fitzie is a Republican appointee and he has really screwed up this whole case. Why isn’t he gone yet?

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 1:41 pm
Looks like ole Rod’s gettin’ thrown under the bus like he did to countless others.
As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap Rod!

Comment by Illinois Tollway 6 Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 1:44 pm
Good one Bill! Laughing so hard I will have to put on a diaper before I read your next comments.

Comment by Siriusly Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:02 pm
So Bill you cool with Brad signing bills?

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:05 pm
Yes, MiloROD is just a victim of his bad staff.
I bet he wishes he had spent more time in the office instead of buying tailor made suits, appointing morons to the Tollway, scheming against his “enemies”.

He is telling the truth and everyone else is lying…..

Comment by reality Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:07 pm
Brad never actually literally signed any bills. He just told Rod which ones to sign. I suppose that probably worked out better than Rod actually trying to figure it out by himself…at least I thought so at the time.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:16 pm
Rod is an ego-maniac and his wife is beyond contempt, but I still don’t understand why they didn’t let him take money from either a Senatorial candidate, Childrens Memorial, the racetrack owner, etc. Then you could throw away the key on this narcissist.

Comment by Jim Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:31 pm
The Adams are now trying to work the ref. They just sought a mistrial based on Zagel’s treatment of them. Has about 0 chance of winning here or on appeal but it might have some marginal impact on Zagel.

I’m starting to wonder if any of Blago’s lawyers have recent Federal experience - they just don’t put up with crap. I’ve seen very good, very seasoned lawyers get chewed up for minor transgressions, but these guys just plow on with the stupid mistakes even after the judge tells them over and over what not to do.

Comment by Berkeley Bear Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:32 pm
I’ve been wondering about the “signing”. Did Brad sign “Rod Blagojevich” or did he sign “Rod Blagojevich and then put his own initials, BT next to the signature.”

Was there a deliberate attempt to fraudulently have it appear that the then-Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the bill, or was it made clear that BT (Brad Tusk) was excercising his ‘deputized’ governor position?

When the bills are looked at, how can anyone tell who actually signed the bill?

Ben Hamilton, often issued letters and proclamations with the Governor’s signature. Now I wonder if indeed it was Rod Blagojevich’s signature or if Ben Hamilton signed “Rod Blagojevich”. Of course, these were GOOD WILL letters & proclamations, ceremonial not legislative, signings. So no real damage could be done.

Comment by HatShopGirl Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:36 pm
Bill is back! Missed you, brother. I tell you, if I’m ever in a jam, I want you on my side, dude.

We’ve heard it all before, but this Blago is a vulgar little man, isn’t he? So small.

VMan, once again, you don’t get it. Blago was elected. Twice. By millions of voters. Certainly by the second election, we knew what we had, and we elected him anyway.

You’re not a victim, pilgrim.

For the record, my voting scorecard in the Blago era was Vallas, Blago, Eisendrath, Whitney.

I voted for Blago once because I wouldn’t vote for the despicable hack who worked his ass off to send a man he knew to be innocent to an appointment with a lethal injection.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:39 pm
HatShopGirl Most likely it was the autopen run by an intern or Secretary

Comment by Madame Defarge Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 2:42 pm
rod most likely didnt “actually” sign any bills. there is an autopen is spfld and one in chicago that signs docs for him.

Comment by nick Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 3:04 pm
appears to be ineffective assistance of counsel?

Comment by the defense on appeal Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 3:11 pm
Perhaps the Former Governor and his counsel are not aware of Judge Zagel’s nearly unfettered discretion when it comes time to sentencing- at the appropriate time all of their antics will be rewarded with what may end up being for all practical purposes, a life sentence- aggressive lawyering is fine but they have seemingly crossed the line

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 3:37 pm
Sue, from your fingers to Zagel’s ear. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 3:38 pm
=== Rod wasn’t much of a governor, but the tapes clearly show that he was intimately involved with all sorts of nefarious details and was actually leading the parade. ===

I’d go even further to say he was too busy managing the details of his conspiracy to make time for actually governing.

And at this point, one has to wonder whether he wanted to raise money so that he could be governor or be governor so he could raise money.

I’m going with the latter.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 4:37 pm
Yellow Dog —

He’s far too petty to think about issues like ‘how many human service workers should be at the Rockford office?; or, ‘have the death penalty reforms worked?’. The tapes and testimony show a man unable to concentrate on anything other than his narrowest self-interest, like a primordial lizard.

Comment by Quizzical Tuesday, Jun 22, 10 @ 11:58 pm