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* Jarrett’s not needed, Adam says…
Rod Blagojevich’s attorney Sam Adam Jr. said that White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett will not take the stand, but that the defense would try to still call White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to testify. “All she can say is what [Tom] Blananoff said,” Adam said of Jarrett. Balanoff previously testified about conversations he had with Barack Obama’s aides about the U.S. Senate seat.
* Julie Blagojevich, the wife of Robert, testified first today. She was apparently wary of her husband’s involvement with the governor’s campaign fund…
Julie said she went out to dinner with Rod and Patti and asked about the swirling federal investigation.
“My impression … To the best of their ability, to their knowledge, the federal investigation was behind them,” she said.
Julie told Robert he could do it, but told him not to take a salary because of possible headlines.
“Did you need the money?” defense attorney Cheryl Schroeder asked.
“No,” Julie said. “I felt like Rod did not know Rob. It was a chance for them to grow closer, perhaps.”
* Robert Blagojevich also testified this morning…
We’re going through Robert’s history — and resume — quite closely. With at least one veteran on the jury, Ettinger is paying special attention to Robert’s expansive military history.
Ettinger asks Robert about his political affiliation — Republican, all his life — and experience with fund-raising. He never did any, he said, until he started volunteering for the Red Cross.
Robert looks serious as he answers questions, doesn’t smile much, if at all. He’s giving the answers straight.
* Meanwhile, let’s take a look at the latest defense filing…
Quoting a refrain from “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” attorneys for Rod Blagojevich in his corruption trial Sunday filed a 41-page memorandum in support of a motion for acquittal.
“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data,” the motion quotes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.”
Quibbling with the conspiracy charges against the former governor, his attorneys write: “Attempt to conspire (conspiracy being an inchoate offense) is not a crime. Likewise, conspiracy to attempt is not a crime.”
Noting that the prosecution decided not to call convicted political fundraisers Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine, Blagojevich’s lawyers claimed that the government failed to establish its RICO case, while it also prevented the defense to ask Rezko about conspiracy allegations made by former Blagojevich Chief of Staff, Lon Monk.
* Roundup…
* Lawmakers: Blagojevich trial evidence vindicates impeachment
* Taking the stand may be Blagojevich’s only hope
* The prosecution rests
* Chatty ex-governor to testify
* Blago as our own Barefoot Bandit
* Ex-Gov. Blagojevich likely to testify this week
* How did Blago get elected? Money, smart politics, luck
* Blagojevich campaign fund almost tapped out by legal bills
* Taking witness stand a risky wager
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 10:55 am
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Robert danced awful close to the line, if he didn’t cross it, but something about him makes me hope he gets a break.
He just reminds me of “Highway Patrolman,” the great Springsteen song from “Nebraska.” (Johnny Cash did a moving cover).
“Now ever since we was young kids it’s been the same come down
I get a call over the radio Franky’s in trouble downtown
Well if it was any other man, I’d put him straight away
But when it’s your brother sometimes you look the other way”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:09 am
So the defense actually has a chance to bring in a big shot to (perhaps) alleviate some of the strain on Rod’s shoulders and they pass?! Oy.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:12 am
I declare haiku Monday:
Defense done with case
Blagojevich takes the stand
Now real fun begins
Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:14 am
I’m Still Innocent, You See!- Joel, enhanced by VanillaMan
What’s the matter with the jury I’m hearing?
Can’t they tell that my tie’s just fine?
Maybe I should spend some more dollars?
I’ll be back when they finish this jive.
Where have you been hidin’ out lately, honey?
You can’t be convicted if you ain’t got dirty money.
Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout my sentencing
Funny, but I’m still innocent, you see!
What’s the matter with the judge I’m wondering?
Can’t he tell that I’m a really great guy?
When he’s through, we’ll just keep on appealing
I’ve got the best lawyers money can buy!
I’m tired of hearing claims that I’m kind of mental
Anyone can see there is nothing evidential.
Taped junk, is bunk, easy stuff to debunk
I’m still innocent, you see!
Oh, it doesn’t matter what they say in the papers
‘Cause they’ve always been unbelievably mean.
There’s a conspiracy in town
But you can’t get the truth from a story in a magazine.
About Madigan’s tax routine.
How about if I just look a lot kinder
Or wear an expensive blue pair of pants?
I know that I could get the jury to like me
If they’d just give me half a chance.
Don’t waste your time trying to deal with The Speaker,
You get more money when you squeeze a job seeker.
That’s OK!, not what they say!, it’s not Pay To Play!
I’m still innocent, you see!
What’s the matter with the crowd I’m seeing?
Don’t you know that they’re out of touch?
Everyone seems convinced that I’m guilty
If they do then they think too much.
Don’t they know that this trial will just embolden,
Those incarceratin’ me to think they’re F$@$^G golden?
It’s the next deal, we’ll appeal, Supreme Court will repeal
I’m still innocent, you see!
Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout a long sentence
Funny, cuz I’m still innocent, you see!
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:27 am
Theory–Prosecution tried Robert w/ Rod to make sure Rod looked as wacky and guilty as possible cuz Robert is so straight and innocent. Jury can feel good about acquitting Robert and not feel bad about nailing Rod.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:48 am
===
He just reminds me of “Highway Patrolman,” the great Springsteen song from “Nebraska.” (Johnny Cash did a moving cover).
===
And Sean Penn made a great movie out of the song called ‘The Indian Runner.’ (Find it at Netflix. Penn wrote the screenplay when he was in prison, but it’s a fantastic movie. Charles Bronson has a fascinating cameo, too. Dennis Hopper’s in it. Worth checking out.)
But you’re absolutely right to point to that song. There’s something about the brotherly bond that’s at the core this Blagojevich courtroom stuff — a fascinating angle, actually. The song/movie has a similar kind of sadness.
Comment by Macbeth Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 11:53 am
Jarrett won’t testify at Blagojevich trial - What a surprise !!!!!
Comment by Carlos Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 12:25 pm
I find my self wishing that Robert gets acquitted too. It seems like he has been punished enough by having that good for a brother.
Comment by raising kane Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 12:25 pm
Wonder what the moral of this story is going to be?
“White Collar Crime Pays in Illinois” or is it going to be “Go For It, Hire a High Octane Publicist and Your Home Free”?
or just simply exile Rod Blagojevich to some miserable place FOREVER!
Comment by Sorry Illinois Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 12:42 pm
Rod has and will continue to lead a charmed life even after the trial.
Comment by Wheel barrel of Manure! Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 1:03 pm
How did Blagojevich get elected in 2002? 26 years of GOP rule ending with George Ryan, covered with the scandals, including the Willis Children.
How did Blagojevich get re-elected? The article did an ok job, but totally neglected to mention the national tidal wave (6th year of a GOP Presidency helped the Democrats) that made Nancy Pelosi Speaker and split the Senate with Joe Leiberman the deciding vote. And, with that national tidal wave, Blagojevich still only got 50% of the vote with 10% going to a 3rd party candidate.
Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 3:35 pm
How did Blagojevich get elected? Add on: #1)He was smart enough to marry Dick Mell’s daughter. At the beginning of Blago’s rise, he had Dick Mell and Dick Mell’s established political organization backing him. That was huge for Rod. Mell knew the ropes, the political players who meant anything, and how to work the Democrat Party leadership for their support of Rod. That gave Rod a huge leg up on the other Democrat contenders hoping to be Governor of Illinois.
Comment by Festus Hagen Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 5:04 pm
I don’t understand why anyone, including Rahm and Barack can be compelled to testify. At best, they are hostile witnesses. It’s clear they avoided Blago like the plague and only dealth with him when protocol demanded that they deal with Blago. Example: the invitation to the Grant Park victory rally issued with the tacit understanding that Blago would NOT attend and then the refusal to get Blago the PROPER CREDENTIALS to get to be with the other politicians at the victory rally.
Brago-Blago is toxic!
QUESTION: ?If Blago is not convicted, is the law forbidding Blago from benefitting from his behavior’s noteriety, null and void?
?If he’s not a criminal, is what he write, says, or otherwise puts out about his ’situation’ still considered criminal and criminal profits?
Comment by HatShopGirl Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 5:20 pm
Hysterical story today on how Patti is spending her time reading Sherlock Holmes on her phone while killing time at court. Maybe it’s “The case of the Missing Realtor Commissions”.
I wonder what came first; her interest in reading Conan Dolye, or the lawyer’s using it in their arguments today? I think Conan Doyle is a little late for her to read now, probably too late to be reading Dale Carnegie as well.
Next up on the reading list should probably be, “Orange is the New Black”, “Hurricane”, or (real book) “Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul”.
Comment by Gregor Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 5:42 pm
From the Sun Times blog…
==Niewoehner then turns to a Nov. 5, 2008 transcript.
“If you can get Obama to get (U.S. Attorney Patrick) Fitzgerald to close the case on you, it provides you total clarity,” Robert says on that tape. He is heard urging his brother to “horse-trade” with Barack Obama to get the feds to stop investigating him.
Niewoehner: “That’s what you wanted to have happen?”
Robert: “As a brother, of course I did.”==
I think that exchange killed off any sympathy I had for Rob. However, Ettinger did a nice job of introducing Rob to the jury today and dropped some not-so-subtle hints that Rob was merely a victim of his idiot brother.
A question for the lawyers… why is the prosecution allowed to introduce contrary evidence and ask Rob for his understanding of the law? I get that federal trials are stacked against the defendants, but Zagel has been all over the defense team for trying the same thing.
To be clear, I’m not complaining at all, nor am I one of those terribly misguided people that thinks Rod is going to walk. I’m just curious. Why the double standard?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 6:28 pm
why is the prosecution allowed to introduce contrary evidence and ask Rob for his understanding of the law? I get that federal trials are stacked against the defendants, but Zagel has been all over the defense team for trying the same thing.
To be clear, I’m not complaining at all, nor am I one of those terribly misguided people that thinks Rod is going to walk. I’m just curious. Why the double standard”
so glad someone else sees it.
Comment by justsickofit Monday, Jul 19, 10 @ 6:49 pm
So is anyone falling for the deathbed promise to the Mom ?
Oh please, They were given an opportunity of political and social power. They jumped in with eyes wide open.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 20, 10 @ 9:16 am