Archive for June, 2010

Rod Blagojevich’s voice was heard in the courtroom today asking his Chief of Staff John Harris what he could get for Barack Obama’s Senate seat. “Department of Human Services, could I get that?…U.N. ambassador, that would be cool.” The secretly recorded conversation took place after Rahm Emanuel told Harris,  in a call the day before [...]

The Blagojevich trial may not take the four to six months once projected. Although the trial is only in its fourth week, the prosecution has already brought in its key witnesses. Former chief of staff  John Harris is on the stand now.  At this pace, the trial could wrap up in as little as three [...]

As he was ushered out of the Dirksen Federal Building tonight, Rod Blagojevich couldn’t help answering a question about the debut of a new courthouse sandwich named in his honor. Trial resumes on Monday.

It happened…for about 10 minutes. This afternoon, the cafeteria at the Dirksen Federal Building offered a new sandwich.  Its name: “The ‘Innocent’ a.k.a Blago.”  The innards – turkey, swiss cheese, avocado, spinach, and pesto mayo.  No word on the bread.  There was also a “Patty Melt” available. But just moments after the sandwich board went [...]

Joe Cari was once one of the Democratic Party’s top national fundraisers, national finance chairman for Al Gore and for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.  But it all came tumbling down when he got involved with Rod Blagojevich. Ironically, Cari had not supported Blagojevich in 2002.  He had supported Jim Ryan after Ryan, a cancer [...]

Judge Zagel turned down prosecutors’ request to muzzle Rod Blagojevich and his lawyers.  Prosecutors had asked for a gag order, saying the constant stream of public statements could have an influence on the jury even though they have been instructed to pay no attention to media accounts.  Prosecutors were particularly incensed with Blagojevich’s statements following the [...]

The cafeteria staff at the Federal Building will make their feelings clear with a new menu item tomorrow.  I learned this while standing behind Blagojevich in the lunch line today.  “Tell Elizabeth,” a clearly pleased Blagojevich said.  The giggling cashier told me that a new sandwich would be listed on the board tomorrow, “Innocent Blago” [...]

Joseph Aramanda is back on the stand this morning.  Aramanda told the jury how he went to his good friend and former business partner Tony Rezko for a loan in May of 2003.  Rezko sent him to Republican businessman Robert Kjellander who had just picked up a $800,000 finders fee from the brokerage firm of [...]

The morning ritual as camera crews and reporters await the arrival of Rod Blagojevich.  The former governor’s brother, Robert Blagojevich usually arrives well ahead of his brother as he has again today. The father-son defense team has also entered the Federal Building and gone upstairs. And shortly before 9:30 Blagojevich and his wife arrive and [...]

Lon Monk appeared exhausted as he finished 4 1/2 days of grueling testimony against a man who was once his best friend. The government contends that Monk was at the apex of schemes to enrich himself, Governor Blagojevich, Chris Kelley and Tony Rezko by using Blagojevich’s powers as governor. In addition, prosecutors say Monk, at [...]

Sam Adam Jr.’s aggressive cross examination of Lon Monk continues this morning.  Adam Jr. ripped into Monk’s memory of the 2003 meeting with Tony Rezko, Chris Kelley, Monk and Blagojevich.  Monk testified earlier that it was at that meeting where Rezko laid out 7 or 8 plans to make money off Blagojevich’s position as Governor.  [...]

Former Senate President Emil Jones told me tonight that there was never a deal between him and former Governor Blagojevich to appoint Jones to Barack Obama’s senate seat.  At the trial today Lon Monk said after then Governor Blagojevich had held up the ethics bill with an amendatory veto in May of 2008 Blagojevich made [...]

One of the most interesting places in the Blagojevich trial is not the courtroom, it’s the cafeteria.  Rod and Patti Blagojevich head to the cafeteria daily where the former governor never fails to shake hands, sign a few autographs and generally make the rounds like the politician he is.  Patti Blagojevich keeps to herself eating [...]