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* 12:07 pm - OK, here we go. Rod Blagojevich speaks to reporters. Click here for NBC5’s live video. Or, you can click here for CBS2’s live feed. Help us out by live-blogging in comments. Thanks.
* Blagojevich said he wanted to testify, but relied on Sam Adam, Sr.’s advice that he shouldn’t.
“The government in my case proved my innocence.”
“Perhaps, maybe the biggest lesson that I learned is that I talk to much.” And with that, he walked away.
* Sam Adam, Sr. is now talking to the press. He said he raised his son to disagree with him on everything.
“What happened to Rezko?” … “They said constantly that they were going to call all these witnesses for four months.” … “Why aren’t you [in the media] on that case? They’re the ones who failed to prove their case here.” … “The simple answer is we were prepared to testify when they brought these people [Rezko, Levine, etc.] on. They never brought them on.” … “We’re playing our own game… which is let them prove their case.” … “Listen, we don’t have an obligation to put on a defense here.”
* Sam Adam, Jr: “Did I believe at the time when I said that, that he was going to testify? Yes, I did… We are not in the business here of pleasing people.” … “I spent, and I’m not joking with you guys, 150 hours, 200 hours going over tapes with him… He’s prepared to testify. It simply came down to an argument between an old bull and a young toad… [Putting Blagojevich on the stand] makes it seem as if the government is right.”
* Sam Adam, Sr. guesses 8-5 that Blagojevich walks. He then backs off that and says 100 percent.
* Sr: “I’ve heard every tape. They played their best [ones]. Don’t [say] that they had tapes that they hid.”
* End. Thoughts?
*** UPDATE 1 *** If you missed it earlier, here’s Rod Blagojevich talking to the media…
*** UPDATE 2 *** It just gets weirder and weirder…
A Wall Street Journal reporter was handcuffed in the lobby of the courthouse just a few minutes ago.
“Interviewing an attorney,” reporter Doug Belkin said, handcuffed in the elevator with several court security officers. It’s against courthouse rules to do interviews outside a designated press area.
The security officers escorted the reporter up to lock-up.
“I told him three times to back up and he didn’t. He put his hands on me,” the security officer said.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Again, if you missed it earlier, here are Blagojevich’s attorneys talking to the press…
*** UPDATE 4 *** Robert Blagojevich spoke briefly to the media…
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:07 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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What a doofus!!!
Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:11 pm
*“What happened to Rezko?” … “They said constantly that they were going to call all these witnesses for four months.”*
Wow. Do they hear themselves speaking?
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:14 pm
This whole “father-son disagreement” is such an obvious ruse.
Comment by George Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:15 pm
I heard this am that the feds held onto a lot of tapes for cross examination as we saw them do with Rob. It is possible that a lot of the most damning stuff was never heard as they held back. If so, I applaud SASR and SAJR and apologize for implying that they were idiots.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:17 pm
I loved the line about him learning from the trial that, “I talk too much.”
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:18 pm
Rod’s a bad guy, but the defense attorneys are correct, why
did the prosecution not give us something from Rezko, et al?
Sheldon S. is a good guy.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:19 pm
these guys are unbelievable, even better than blago himself.
Comment by shore Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:21 pm
Rich must have an advanced feed - he gets the quotes typed up here before I hear it on the “live” feed.
Comment by George Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Did anyone hear that reporter yell at Rod ? Hey Governor did you lose your testicular virility ? It’s about time one of them spoke up.
Comment by Windy City Mama Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:23 pm
===* End. Thoughts?===
Clown show?
Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:24 pm
The clown show was at the table on the left.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:27 pm
Ah, Bill, it’s so “good” to have you back in fine form. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:28 pm
lol
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Very clever by defense…Prosecution never expected it and saved a bunch of their good stuff for cross exam of Blago and rebuttal instead of using it in their case in chief. So, prosecution has risked their case…esp. the reliance on “honest services”. Pros can only use what’s been admitted so far and not anything that they haven’t in their closing arguments and I’ll bet they had several bombs still waiting.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:30 pm
==Rich must have an advanced feed - he gets the quotes typed up here before I hear it on the “live” feed.==
Or is he the puppet master feeding them their lines?
“I say it here, it comes out there.” — Broadcast News
Comment by Pat Robertson Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:30 pm
The prosecution can reopen their case and play all the stuff they saved for cross.
Comment by Segatari Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:34 pm
== saved a bunch of their good stuff for cross exam of Blago==
They never had any good stuff. It is pretty sad that the only way that they can spin their poor preparation and exxecution is that they were outsmarted by the defense. It is obvious now that they never had a case and no crimes were ever committed. Look at all the lives they ended or ruined. For what? Fitzie’s ego gratification? Not guilty on all counts for Rob and Rod. Exile for Fitzie!
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:36 pm
I did like how Sam Adam referred to Fitzgerald as the greatest prosecutor in the history of the united states…
Comment by George Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:38 pm
Now I’m really depressed. Been waiting for months now to hear the truth, hear the standup comedians parse it all into belly laughs and hear new lines for my ringtones….
bummer!
Comment by one day at a time Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:38 pm
People really think the jury is that dumb? Rotten luck for Robert — I get the sense he at least had a fighting chance of getting off if he had been tried separately.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:39 pm
The prosecution had to play their cards as if Blago would insist on doing what he always had said he would do– testify. In that respect no doubt the government held back at least a bit of strategic evidence (e.g., Rezko) which they would have sprung during a Blago cross-exam (as they apparently did with Robert).
Personally, I don’t think Blago’s “reneging” is going to play well with the jury, and certainly not with the public. After all his previous histrionics in the national media, his argument now, that “the government didn’t prove its case and so I don’t need to testify”, is not the Blago we all know and love. If he was so certain the state’s case had not been made, Blago would be up there on the stand performing, grinning and wiggling his fingers in his ears while spouting “nyah, nyah, nyah nyah, nyah.”
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:41 pm
Reporters seemed miffed, mostly I’m guessing because they didn’t get to milk this thing longer and because the reality didn’t live up to their hype.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:41 pm
A smart play by the Blago team. While I would not characterize the prosecution case as weak, it was not overwhelming by any definition. This jury could go either way or possibly be hung.
JMHO
Comment by downstate hack Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:42 pm
I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Comment by Boscobud Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:43 pm
Bill if it werent for all the evidence that has already come in about deals, shakedowns, financial transactions, money to blagos campaign fund and patti’s sham real estate payments, you would be right on. The only thing Blago has to fear is the evidence.
The comment about dmg control was spot on. There is no way Blago could spin his way out of the truth, so he had to be kept off the stand to keep the case from getting any worse.
Rod will be convicted, I just need to find a bookie to take the bet….is Blago still taking book?
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:47 pm
The Kinks “Set Me Free” comes to mind as I ponder the jury deliberations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WOQOZstYIU
Thankfully, this whole Blago mess MAY come to an end soon and he MAY be somewhere where he can’t speak to the press or sign autographs.
Comment by IrishPirate Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 12:52 pm
Ghost,
Evidence? All I heard was a lot of hearsay from a bunch of rats who traded their lies on the stand for lighter sentences. There was no money exchanged in the so called Children’s deal. Patti was not on trial. Where was that villian Rezco we have heard about through leaks from the Ausa for the last 2 years? Where were Jesse jr and the Indians? Hearsay, hearsay and more hearsay. Sure, Rod was a braggart and a big mouth who blustered and used the F word on the phone with his friends. Any paper trail? No.. Any hard evidence of bribes? No? Any anything other than in the prosecutor’s imagination? No.
In the slight chance that Rod doesn’t walk, it will be because the jury bought the prosecutors’ bull not because he did anything wrong.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:03 pm
I’m not a lawyer but I was on a jury in Federal Court last summer. It was a pretty simple/straightforward case involving guns and drugs. When the testimony was over I had some doubts about whether the government had proved its case on both the large issues and the smaller ones. Then we were given the jury instructions.
The facts of the case were one thing. The facts coupled with the relevant law made it a whole different story. And one that gave us a surprising amount of latitude.
Speculating on how this turns out is a great parlor game at this point but may change when we hear the instructions to the jury.
Comment by And I Approved This Message Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:04 pm
I’ve always admired Sam Adam, Sr. Great strategist and he can read a jury. If they can just get a hung jury, they survive and advance, and there’s always a possibility the government would elect not to retry. There is also a greater likelihood of a change of venue, if they did retry, as the coverage has been total. If they did retry, Rod would also have a year to prepare, rethink his strategy, maybe come out with his own line of running clothes.
Michael Ettinger also gets high marks for his defense of Robert, whom I believe has a good chance of being acquitted. And an acquittal of Robert could put some of the jury in the frame of mind to sympathize with Rod.
I can’t help but think that, if the govt were allowed to wiretap at will, many public officials would be caught doing more blatant, tho lower profile, pay-to-play activity than Rod.
Comment by james Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:05 pm
–maybe come out with his own line of running clothes–
or men’s hair care products
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:08 pm
===Then we were given the jury instructions.===
That’s the issue that way too many people miss. This judge will write the instructions. Those instructions are killers.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:14 pm
Bill I am willing to bet you Rich’s leased ultra sports car that Blago is minimially convicted on some of the charges.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:22 pm
It is a great move by the defense. They know no one belives Rod. The burden is on the prosecution and their case ended with a thud. Generally high profile cases that end with no smoking gun end in acquittal. Adam is playing the odds and it is a good move. It is sometimes hard to get a juror over the emotional letdown of not having that lynchpin when you are talking about sending a guy away for life. It seems the burden is higher in these cases.
Michael Jackson slept with boys but committed no crime, OJ ran from the cops, but did no time, perhaps Rod walks, nothing more than political slime.
Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:23 pm
De do do do, de da da da - Sting, enhanced a smidge by VanillaMan
Blagojevich
Don’t think me unkind
Words are hard to find
They’re only checks I’ve left unsigned
From the banks of lies in my mind
And when my eloquence escapes me
The Feds bug my office and tapes me
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
My innocence will pull me through
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
My lawyers claim what I don’t say is true
All those hateful politicians
Twist my words for their positions
Madigan demands my total submission
The absolute truth is my complete mission
‘Cos the testimony lies to you
I’m the only guy whose being true!
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
My innocence will pull me through
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
The Adams kept me from telling you
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Rich -
Get a clue before you pop off. The judge does not write the jury instructions. The defense and the government each submit their proposed instructions, then they hammer out a package with the judge. In most instances, the text is drawn from statutes and case law - including, for instance, SCOTUS’s pretty clear decision re: honest services fraud. No way does the judge write them.
Comment by chicago 7 Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:30 pm
Um, yes. The judge does write them. There’s input, sure, but it’s his call in the end. Period.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:30 pm
Um, no. Judge doesn’t write them. Go downtown next week and see what happens.
Comment by chicago 7 Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:37 pm
Right, the judge doesn’t influence the jury instructions at all. You think the defense and prosecution are going to agree on them? Guess who decides.
I also don’t buy the theory that the government was holding back their best stuff. Nolan Ryan didn’t put away his fastball to save it for extra innings. He brought the gas early and often. The testimony of the hospital chief and road guy was devastating.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:40 pm
Symmetry? Here’s update 15 from Rich’s report on George Ryan’s verdict back in 2006:
==
CBS2 has spoken to a juror who wished that Ryan had testified on his own behalf. He also reportedly said there was “no smoking gun,” no one thing that convicted Ryan.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:40 pm
Hey Bill —
Good to see you back in mid-season form. I had been wondering about you. If there’s a special for Sen. Burris’ seat, can we write you in? Will “Bill” be sufficient?
Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:45 pm
Brilliant move by the defense to keep Blago off the witness stand. Blago would attempt to put a spin on all the evidence deals, shakedowns, financial transactions, money to his campaign fund and his wife’s sham real estate payments, and he’d only get himself deeper in doodoo. A shame we’ll have to miss that now.
Comment by Hunterdon Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:46 pm
Sr and Jr would be great SNL Host!!
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:54 pm
It wouldn’t matter if Jesus Christ himself came down from Heaven and recused Blago you people would think he paid him off or some other evil plot, sometimes the government is just plain wrong or makes “bone headed mistakes” aka Obama and Rezcko real estate dealings. 24 counts? Really? They forgot to put up witnesses for about 20 of the counts.
Comment by NOTGUILTYJUSTDUMB Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 1:58 pm
Right about now the jury must be sitting dumbstruck by this supposed genius like no defense maneuver. If these two Adam guys had a clue, they would have greased the jury to anticipate no defense.
No matter what the judge says about not letting this affect their decision-the damage is done. If Blago is convicted on all counts, as he will be, what was the point of no defense. At the very least, he may have been able to remove the bus he threw his brother under.
This man has ne redeemable qualities.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:16 pm
The next step is the closing argument explanation as to why no defense. Wordslinger’s point is well taken and that will have to be explained to the Jury by Defense in closing; but pros. can’t touch it w/ a 10 footer cuz of 5th amend. Jury instructions will come from the 7th Cir. Pattern Jury instructions
http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/pjury.pdf
Little deviation is tolerated w/o strong justification; though Judge Zagel will make final decision at trial, deviation is a great appeal issue.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:29 pm
Blago does have children, who will surely miss him if he is incarcerated…it will also be hard on them financially and emtionally…let’s have a just a little human decency here please…
Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:31 pm
Neither of these statements will make me very popular on this blog. 1. I don’t think the gov’t proved their case. 2. VM’s songs are annoying, at best.
Comment by So. ILL Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:38 pm
And, of course, in a Hollywood sense, Blago could always present part of his own closing argument…can’t you just imagine that
Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:46 pm
I have a question for the lawyers here: it seems to me that if Blagojevich doesn’t put up a defense, he will have a hard time making an argument for an appeal - assuming, of course, that he is found guilty. Am I right about that, or not?
Comment by lakeview Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:48 pm
“Michael Jackson slept with boys but committed no crime, OJ ran from the cops, but did no time, perhaps Rod walks, nothing more than political slime.”
That overlooks the fact that Michael Jackson and OJ were tried in California STATE criminal courts whereas Blago is being tried in the federal system. I don’t know how the two systems differ in their definitions of the various offenses and in jury instructions, etc. but I would guess there’s a significant difference.
Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:48 pm
So.ILL,
I agree with you. The gov’t didnt prove their case in my eyes either. But, I think the jury will convict Rod and Rob on some of the counts. The jail time, if any, if will minimal and we will all have many more years of listening to Rod claim his complete innocence and show off his hair.
Comment by Vandalia Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:51 pm
I think the photo of Rob the brother Blago looks more like “W” the most recent Bush president. Bush
Comment by anon Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:53 pm
D.P. is spot on. And remember, though Blago and his team kept hammering the fact that he never received a corrupt penny, the federal bribery statute 18 U.S.C. s.201 demands only that Rod “being a public official…directly or indirectly, corruptly demanded, sought, received, accepted, or agreed to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for being influenced in the performance of any official act.” Surely the government met this burden.
Comment by Bacon Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 2:59 pm
Sorry for the all the bold, meant to highlight only the first “received” and “demanded, sought”
Comment by Bacon Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 3:01 pm
Rod - I can’t wait to get on that stand and tell everyone what really happened and that I am not a crook.
Just more statements Rod made that he can’t or won’t back up.
Comment by Concerned Voter Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 3:03 pm
I worked under this good for nothing governor for four years and I can tell you from first hand experience he treated all staff like dirt and only cared about himself. I have no respect from the guy. He is dirty and should be put away for a long time. I am sorry for his kids, but he should have thought of them first, which he didn’t. As for Patty, she made her bed and now must suffer the consequences as well. As for the people that voted to re-elect him, what were you thinking?
Comment by Former State Worker Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 3:15 pm
===The clown show was at the table on the left.===
Only if you are the judge!
Comment by Say WHAT? Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 3:44 pm
@Former State Worker, you have no proof of anything, I am certain you weren’t part of any inner circle that would have any knowledge- otherwise you’d been on the stand, probably a DCEO or HFS department dupe, not doing any legitmate work but shuffling some papers, but you should thank Blago for letting you keep your job all four years.
Comment by NOTGUILTYJUSTDUMB Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:01 pm
“Michael Jackson slept with boys but committed no crime, OJ ran from the cops, but did no time, perhaps Rod walks, nothing more than political slime.”
For those who are still sitting on fence-O.J. and Michael presented a defense.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:09 pm
NOTGUILTYJUSTDUMB… I have more knowledge than you know. Blago and his cronies were all egotistical jerks and didn’t know their *** from a hole in the ground. I had never seen such inept people in my more than 30 years of government service.
Comment by Former State Worker Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:17 pm
@Former state worker- and those inept people are still there!
Comment by flabergasted Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:24 pm
Not putting Rod on is correcting a giant, stupid idea. Not putting any defense on is basically an admission that (contrary to all prior comments) there’s nothing anyone but Rod could say that matters and what he could say isn’t worth the risk of digging the hole deeper.
The folks still denying a guilty verdict is likely on virtually all counts either don’t understand just how broad criminal conspiracy law really is or how bad this stuff sounds to people who aren’t cynical as all get out to begin with. You have multiple discussions by a government official seeking personal gain in return for public action. These weren’t just “bull” sessions - he had Wyma, Harris, Robert B and others take definitive steps in furtherance of securing that gain in return for actions. The fact he didn’t succeed doesn’t matter. You also have Blago dead to rights lying to Federal agents about his ties to fundraising operations and government favors, a pretty strong case of improper benefits given to Patty B by Rezmar, the Ali Atta testimony about pay to play and a clear case of Blago trying to shake several people down for contributions to get various actions (Certificate of Need, racetrack bill, road bill). The defense - that no one put a quid pro quo in so many terms on some of these - isn’t going to fly in the face of the sheer one-sidedness of the case, especially when it is pointed out that almost everyone else involved is going to jail or is already there. I’d expect that unless the prosecution has completely lost the jury, a good closing argument will lead to conviction on almost all counts (18+).
I’ve had jury instructions that were nearly all party driven, and I’ve had a judge dictate the instructions verbatim with almost no input. As long as they have roots in the pattern instructions and the applicable law, Zagel will be fine no matter what he does.
As to appeal, Blago’s chances are no better or worse because of this strategic choice. Any appeal was going to rest on supposed errors in Zagel’s handling of the prosecution’s case or the insufficiency of that case, not an error in how the jury weighed the evidence (which would be virtually impossible to win).
Comment by Berkeley Bear Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:38 pm
If a man points a gun at you but does not shoot you,and, there is not a smoking gun , is it not a crime ?
Comment by jt Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:47 pm
RRB is getting raked over the coals pretty good here today. But in his defense I think it must be said–both he and Patti have been dressed beautifully every day of the trial so far.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:49 pm
Well now we know what Rod’s doing with all that free time - trolling this board with new pseudonyms.
While I agree (and have always felt) that the Senate charge was weak, there are 16 other counts that in my opinion the government clearly proved. While I have felt for some time that neither Rod nor Patti would testify, the failure to present any witnesses to rebut any of the evidence is idiotic in the extreme.
Fundamentally jurors will now have only one side of the story on most of the evidence. And their only source of a countervailing view will be from lawyers who have made daily asses of themselves in court and who will be about as credible as Rod.
Just think what calling Rahm to the stand and asking him to explain political horse trading might have done for the Senate charge for example.
Rod and his lawyers deserve each other. 15 years.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 4:57 pm
Berkely Bear,
You’ve laid it out exactly right and I agree with you completely.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 5:07 pm
Responsa has convinced me. We won’t hear the Chewbacca defense. The closing argument: “Hey Look! A tie!”
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 5:09 pm
I know this is water over the dam, but could ROB have subpoenaed ROD to testify on his behalf?
Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 5:50 pm
Rod’s not at this board! He doesn’t know how to use a computer!
But, seriously, the damage is done. The Blagoyevich administration left behind millions of dollars in unpaid services, thousands of merit comp employees in the bargaining unit and Patrick Quinn as his replacement.
Comment by Emily Booth Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 7:26 pm
Rod knows how to use a computer, a Blackberry, an IPhone, and an IPOD. His schtick on TV of being a technological idiot was lame and not true.
Robert, unfortunately, played into the prosecution plan of bringing to light yet another tape. Not sure if he will walk.
ROD will be convicted on some counts. There’s no way he’s going to get off on all counts. I’m sure the defenee believes they have outsmated the government. But it’s the jury they really need to outsmart and I believe they haven’t done that.
There will be weeping and wailing by both sides over jury instructions. It will be a longer process than the judge wants it to be.
After the conviction of Rod, the next indictment will be for Patti.
I’ll keep track of my own predictions and see how many I get correct.
Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 8:13 pm
The attornies for rod are not inept. They have known since day one rod would never testify. The entire idea was to distract multiple prosecutors who would have to listen and record every statement Rod uttered since charged. In the end they pontificate as always, we don’t need to present any evidence because the gov’t failed. It works at County, it won’t work at club fed
Comment by anon Wednesday, Jul 21, 10 @ 9:45 pm
Little Egypt - Rod knows how to use a computer, a Blackberry, an IPhone, and an IPOD. His schtick on TV of being a technological idiot was lame and not true.
You are wrong. I know for certain. Rod never had any interest in learning these things.
Comment by Windy City Mama Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 8:29 am
Channel 11 Chicago tonight devoted one hour to this last night. All the expert witness’ agreed Rod’s toast. Oh sorry, there was one defense attorney who believed the government had not proven their case. Funny thing. That lawyer’s claim to fame was defending Frank Calabrese Sr.. Calabrese is now in prison and will never see the outside. Sorry Rod !!!
Comment by Windy City Mama Thursday, Jul 22, 10 @ 8:36 am