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* The prosecution finished its cross-examination of Rod Blagojevich yesterday and the defense intends to put a couple witnesses on the stand today. The prosecution may also offer closing arguments today and jury deliberations may begin tomorrow. BlackBerry users click here, everybody else can just kick back and watch the festivities…
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 9:31 am
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The Federales know plenty about Rod Blagojevich’s slippery dealings @ The Illinois Tollway.
I could name many names, but Rich would delete the post.
Bunk to you Rod!
Comment by Loving It Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 9:45 am
–At the end of the excerpt of the call, Emanuel tells Blagojevich: “I will not forget this…
“I appreciate it. That’s all I am going to say. I don’t want to go, you and I shouldn’t go farther.”–
That’s some shockingly bad judgment and a weird request from Emanuel.
Here, Emanuel is going to be White House Chief of Staff for an administration whose Justice Department is all over Blago, and everyone knows it. And he’s asking Blago for this ridiculous and greedy favor.
I’ve always wondered if the federales accelerated their arrest of Blago for fear that someone from the incoming administration would say something really stupid on a bugged phone call. Emanuel’s statement is dancing awfully close.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 10:00 am
@Wordslinger,
You are right on the money.
Comment by Esquire Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 10:09 am
Whoa. Blagojevich tried shaking hands with the prosecution. That guy either has some serious stones or he’s certifiably insane. Maybe both…either way, yikes.
Comment by heet101 Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 10:11 am
The trial has been good for business for this blog-which I think is great for you-but it’s been a long time since I’ve been as ready on a personal level to see a major political figure go as I have been blago. the amount of energy that’s been consumed by the chicago media on this thug which should have been devoted to serious policy and news issues and stories in the area is absolutely ridiculous and I hope the jury comes back quickly they get a long brutal sentence.
Comment by Shore Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 10:53 am
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 10:00 am:
“That’s some shockingly bad judgment…”
You mean being caught on tape?
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 11:28 am
After all this they still don’t have a case. 4 hours? For what? These prosecutors are the worst lawyers ever. Where’s the crime? Where’s the evidence? This will be a real blow to Superfitz’ political aspirations. Tens of millions of dollars wasted for nothing.
Not guilty on all counts!
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 11:36 am
Bill, isn’t it a bit early in the day to be hitting the sauce so hard?
Notice, I didn’t say it’s too early to hit the sauce. I said it might be too early to hit it so hard.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 11:39 am
It must be the heat.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 11:44 am
Never drink hot toddies in June, dude.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 11:47 am
Sage advice.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 12:07 pm
Enjoyed this ” live ” coverage. Thanks.
Comment by x ace Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 12:37 pm
What I find both shocking and amusing is Claypool’s role in the “temporary Congressman” deal. Claypool appears to have conived with Rahm to be appointed congressman by no one more unsavory than Blago, knowing that it does not meet the constituional requirements. Claypool has always proclaimed he was above such devious and unsavory behavior. The truth beknown, Claypool is a phony and his only concern is himself!
Comment by MOON Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 12:38 pm
Rod’s contention is that sure, the cop with a radar gun caught him doing 60 in a school zone, but it was only one time, and that cop has missed many other instances when someone else sped thru that area, and that going faster than the posted limit was okay because while he was driving Rod was thinking super-hard about safety and bow to make roads safer. And Mike Madigan was mean to him that week.
Comment by Newsclown Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 12:43 pm
@word—as usual, your post makes a lot of sense.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 12:57 pm
Last go around, I said there were only 4 counts that made any sense, and that they would have less than 50-50 chance of conviction. I further said that a couple of dozen counts were too confusing for the average citizen to keep straight. I did, however predict they would get Rod on lying to the Feds since there isn’t a human being on Earth that could not be caught in a contradiction when under the gun.
This time is more interesting. The prosecution has decided to not significantly narrow the number of counts down to a lesser amount (20 v. 24). While the presentation appears more focussed, there is still only so much that the average person can process. I feel that there has been some doubt cast on a number of the counts in this new indictment. Additionally, I think Rod was smart to push the judge into sustaining objections and stopping Rod from “explaining the context.” Jurors will naturally wonder about the context, especially when they consider that defense witness said Rod did not make deals on JCubed and some other items. Another item that may stick in the jury’s craw is that a number of tapes were deemed off-limits in this trial, they will rightfully question what were the contents of the tapes.
All this said, I think Rod will skate on most of the charges. He will not be convicted on the Senate seat charge. The Children’s Hospital stuff was never really well rebutted by Rod, he goes down there. He gets convicted on two counts, adding to the lying to the FBI count, Rod gets 6 years in prison.
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 1:34 pm
This last witness out to a good rebuttal.
Rich. Thank you for this forum! I still cant figure why the tweets pop up here a long time before I can see them on my cell…
Comment by LINK Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 2:18 pm
I disagree Cincinnatus, what about the committing perjury angle?
Ever since Rod’s taken the stand Rod’s been lying, along with everyone who surrounds him.
Comment by Loving It Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 2:19 pm
Bill, I don’t know if you are a Cubs fan, but if you are not, you must know what it feels like to be one.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 2:23 pm
Hey Rich - Is Capitol Fax apparel still available?
Comment by Loving It Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 2:34 pm
As Cincinnatus says “The Children’s Hospital stuff was never really well rebutted by Rod, he goes down there.”
Yup. Count 14, attempted extortion. No way the jury cannot find him guilty.
Comment by Hunterdon Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 2:53 pm
What was the last day that illinois did not have a governor under indictment/investigation/in jail/awaiting sentencing/on trial?
Comment by Shore Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 3:04 pm
Shore, I think that would be the day that George Ryan was sworn in. But Edgar had his own problems.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 3:18 pm
This tweet is a quote from the prosecution’s closing argument. You’d think after having done this a second time the prosecution would have presented the evidence clearly and effectively. Instead they are pleading to the jury not to review the evidence in the order presented by the prosecution, but rather in a manner that would have made it more clear, and made sense. Maybe they’ll finally get it right in the next trial. Jeez.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 3:25 pm
TC, she may have been referring to the defendant’s case.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 3:27 pm
Shore,
The real question is when it ends? I will say this, I doubt that Quinn is clever enough to create a scheme that would get him in legal trouble. While your streak may go on a while, Quinn might just break the chain. But then again, there is the guy after him…
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 3:40 pm
I think the streak ends next week, or whenever the jury comes back with a guilty verdict. Hopefully, that’s next week.
Quinn is a lot of things. Hard to think of him as a criminal.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 3:46 pm
“What was the last day that illinois did not have a governor under indictment/investigation/in jail/awaiting sentencing/on trial?”
Assuming the “streak” refers to EITHER sitting or former governors, and assuming that Blago gets some kind of prison sentence, that streak will continue until both Ryan and Blago are out of prison… which could be a while.
Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 4:01 pm
wordslinger @ 10:00 AM
You are probably dead on. I’ve thought the same thing from the day he was arrested ..
I’m guessing Rod gets convicted on about 1/2 the counts. Can’t wait for the day they cut his hair; that will be a worse punishment than the jail time …
Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 4:04 pm
“Did the defendant try to get a personal benefit for himself in exchange for an official act?”
“The defendant lied to you under oath in this courtroom,”
Exactly, Hamilton seems to be focusing on the facts better this time around.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 4:30 pm
ryan will be in prison another few years, blago has already been convicted on one count, assuming he does the 7 years people think he might get that would take us what 1999-2018? between ryan investigation starting, ryan thing playing out/going to jail.
It’s one of those stats like the x number of chicago aldermen getting convicted since 1971 I could see getting used when people want to slam Illinois on corruption or in future cases. As in, Illinois by 2017 will have had a former gov under investigation or in jail since 1999 or something. Sad, but political junkies and reporters like throwing nuggets like that into stories.
Comment by Shore Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 4:39 pm
Very smart to have a woman make the closing arguments for the prosecutor so the women jurors can relate better. This should not be necessary but I think it is effective nonetheless.
Sounds like Carrie is much more organized than the previous prosecution’s closing argument, She is walking the jury through the crimes committed and pointing to the criminal so the jury doesn’t get confused with the 20 counts and who committed them.
Go Team!
Comment by sidepocket Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 4:49 pm
I think it’s fascinating that the whole case might come down to whether the jury believes Rod lied to them on the stand. If they think he lied, the charges themselves almost don’t matter anymore, whether this was just politics or Rod trying to gain some illegal personal benefit.
So the jury will be left with this: if the charges are really just politics, why did Rod lie on the stand? Or, from Bill’s perspective, assuming the jury thought Rod was telling the truth on the stand, the charges really were about politics and nothing more, and therefore Monk, Harris, Wyma et al were lying.
I think it’s priceless that his fate boils down to his word, under oath, on the stand, and not his words on the tapes, which I believe prove he violated another oath.
The simplest explanation? He’s guilty and he’s lying to cover it up. Juries don’t like being lied to.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 5:23 pm
Not an attorney but from my perspective it seems a good point for the prosecutor to make is Rod’s reference to the Senate seat as HIS, “I’VE got this thing…I’M not giving it away”. Where is service to the people? Where is looking out for the interests of the state? Rod’s stories are not believable - The appointment was HIS and he wanted something for HIMSELF….no effin’ question about it.
Comment by thurber Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 5:42 pm
I thought the defense came down to four points:
– Blago never stops talking and will say just about anything without even knowing what he’s saying. Witness all the incessant babbling, repetitiveness and answering over his lawyers objections on the stand.
– Blago is a little dense. All the references to being a lousy student, especially a poor law student. He can’t follow the line of questioning to give relevant answers. If he said anything that could be construed on recordings as illegal, that’s just because he’s kind of dumb.
– Blago is a little crazy. I thought that was the most remarkable part of the whole testimony, in which Blago said, under defense questioning, that he considered appointing himself senator so that he could pursue Bin Laden in Afghanistan. That is not the statement of a sane man, and his defense lawyers know that and made sure to get it out there as part of a strategy.
– The prosecution can’t put an ill-gotten dime in his pocket. While attempted extortion may be a crime, do you really convict a babbling, dumb, nutjob for it?
Whether it works on one or more jurors remains to be seen.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 5:59 pm
wordslinger, the problem is the defense went too far. One or two of these points might have done the trick, but throw every excuse except the kitchen sink approach? I thought the OBL comment to be way over the top. No, it may look like your guy may be crazy or ignorant, but it very much looks like your guy is lying.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 6:05 pm
Slinger, this time the prosecution made sure to explain it so the most dense juror will know: it didn’t have to be complete with receipt of the cash, to be illegal. It was a criminal conspiracy to abuse the power of the office for personal gain, and just the attempt is enough. Occam’s Razor and all that, you can connect the dots between enough data points to get a curve that shows Rod is bent.
The first trial had more legalistic stunt work in it than a Hong Kong Action movie, and it dazzled some of the less educated and perceptive jurors. Enough with one of them to cause the retrial. The judge clamped down on that quite a bit this time, and I think (pray) the results will show.
I think the jury has seen thru plenty of Rod’s little tricks this time: the magic memory that has convenient holes in it only regarding key trial facts. The blatant attempts to insert evidence or testimony not allowed by previous rulings. The attempts to plant false ideas about alternative motives. The Eddie Haskellisms of always blessing people sneezing, trying to shake the prosecutor’s hand, when as a former prosecutor Rod KNOWS you don’t do that - the attempts at humor and self-deprecation on the stand - The jury has seen these kinds of tricks performed by their own kids, trying to weasel out of a punishment. If they are any kind of parent at all, they will see and know Rod’s ploy for what it is.
Schar and team have taken Rod’s credibility apart like a game of Jenga. I can’t imagine a scenario where Rod doesn’t come away with at least ten counts of guilty, plus his perjury on the stand.
Comment by Newsclown Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 6:35 pm
==I’ve always wondered if the federales accelerated their arrest of Blago for fear that someone from the incoming administration would say something really stupid on a bugged phone call. Emanuel’s statement is dancing awfully close.==
I always thought the reason they sped it up was that Blago tried to put the squeeze on Rahm and PO’d the wrong person.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 7:34 pm
I wonder what the holdout juror will say after this verdict.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 8:20 pm
I only hope that Bill will give us cell block updates from his visits to Rod in the clink. Good fodder for another 20 plus years.
Comment by Macoupin Observer Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 9:24 pm
I’ll expound on this tomorrow, but I think the core of the defense argument has always boiled down to “Hey, I was just sayin’…”
As in “I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’”…
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 8, 11 @ 10:18 pm
–At the time, Emanuel was leaving to be White House chief of staff but he was interested in returning to his House seat to possibly rise to Speaker.
–Emanuel says that Claypool would only stay in Congress for a couple of years.
–”And then he wants to go to the cabinet,” Emanuel says on the recorded phone call that was made public this afternoon in a defense filing.–
At the time of this Nov. 8 conversation, Emanuel was still a congressman.
So, in this twisted conversation, was the congressman seeking the governor’s help to give his office to Claypool, on the understanding Claypool would relinquish it when Emanuel wanted it back in exchange for a Cabinet post?
In the context of this prosecution, that’s a lot of chatter about leveraging effin golden public offices for future considerations.
No interest from the U.S. attorney? Anyone want to ask Mayor Emanuel, and his new CTA chief, Claypool, to expound on this brilliant, unconstitutional scheme, caught on tape by the FBI just after Obama’s election?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 9, 11 @ 12:08 am