Archive for July, 2010

An emotional Sam Adm Jr. told reporters why he was so eager to defend Rod Blagojevich.  Adam’s daughter, Sydney, was born prematurely at 25 weeks and if it hadn’t been for Illinois All Kids program, promoted by Governor Blagojevich, Adam said, he could have lost his daughter.  Adam said he had no insurance until All [...]

For one final time, Rod and Patti Blagojevich made their way into Judge Zagel’s courtroom.  The crowd waiting to see the ex-governor was a little smaller today; nevertheless, seats in the 25th floor courtroom are once again filled.  Patti Blagojevich, wearing a crisp polka dotted blouse, has her knitting needles flashing as she continues to [...]

“Take a step back,” said prosecutor Reid Schar, “and put the pieces of the puzzle together.  This is a corrupt governor who blames everyone else for his problems.  He had more training than most lawyers, he was a former prosecutor, yet somehow he became the ‘accidentally corrupt governor?’”   ”It’s time for accountability,” a surprisingly emotional [...]

Sam Adam’s favorite phrase in his bombastic opening statement is ”Give me a break!” Adam has just finished his closing argument with a whispered but impassioned plea to find Rod Blagojevich not guilty.  “This is serious business,” Adam told the jury.  “He never intended bribery, he never intended extortion.” Earlier in his close, Adam addressed what [...]

Judge Zagel warned Sam Adam Jr. not to say the government failed to call Tony Rezko to the stand for fear it would hurt its case. Zagel said jail for Adam was never in the picture, but warned that he would sit him down in the middle of his closing argument if he violated the [...]

Judge James Zagel warned Sam Adam Jr. that he could be held in contempt if he questions why the government did not call Tony Rezko or Stuart Levine to the witness stand.  But Adam feels strongly that the ruling is unfair to his client and said earlier today he was ready to go to jail, [...]

All Robert Blagojevich ever did was fundraise, says his attorney Michael Ettinger.  “Robert made normal routine campaign calls to ask for fundraisers.”  He was not asking for funds in exchange for a state act.  “Don’t say my client is shaking you down.”  Ettinger implored the jury to filter what they have heard about Robert Blagojevich [...]

“Talking is a crime,” Chris Niewoehner told the jury in his closing argument.  Niewoehner’s close wrapped up the government’s case by saying the heart of the case was Blagojevich’s attempt to exchange a state benefit for a personal benefit, including campaign contributions.  For the first time, the government clearly spelled out why asking for campaign [...]

Quite a scene here at the Federal building on the day of closing arguments at the Blagojevich trial.  People hoping to get a seat in the courtroom were lined up at 5:00am, by 7:00am 100 people were waiting outside the doors.  Only the first 20 made it into the courtroom. Rod Blagojevich has just arrived [...]

Rod Blagojevich’s defense team has told the judge that they are resting their case. Without calling a single witness, including testimony long promised from the ex-governor, it’s over. Blagojevich will make a statement when court ends today.

Court has adjourned for the day.  Speculation continues.

Courtroom abuzz… Will Blago fold and enter a guilty plea? All the lawyers are huddled with Judge Zagel in a sidebar in the courtroom.  We’ll know soon!

Robert Blagojevich withstood a biting cross examination from the government without ever backing off his assertion that he never mixed fundraising with government action.  Chris Niewoehner pressed him again on whether he thought Ragu Nayak was trying to rekindle a deal to have Jesse Jackson Jr. appointed to the senate seat in exchange for raising [...]