Blago Can't Tweet About Trial, But Defense Lawyer Tells Jury He'll Testify
As opening statements were about to begin today in the much-publicized public corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich, a federal judge arguably saved the impeached former Illinois governor from himself, reports the Blagojevich on Trial blog of the Chicago Tribune.
Although Blagojevich can continue to comment publicly on the case, if he wishes, and risk the potential adverse consequences to his defense, he can’t tweet from the courtroom about it on Twitter, U.S. District Judge James Zagel ruled.
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet notes that Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, has also been tweeting about the case; it isn’t clear from news coverage whether she is also included in the Twitter ban.
Summarizing the government’s case against the ex-governor to Chicago jurors this afternoon, assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Hamilton told them: “When he was supposed to be asking, ‘What about the people of Illinois?’ he was asking ‘What about me?’ ” reports another Sun-Times article.
The prosecution portrayed Blagojevich as deeply in debt in 2008 and showed jurors a chart allegedly demonstrating how his income dropped and his obligations rose as key associates were criminally charged.
In response, the defense promised jurors that the ex-governor would himself testify, a strategy considered risky by a number of observers, reports the Associated Press.
By hearing Blagojevich himself speak, and not just his counsel, jurors will know in their gut by the end of the trial that he didn’t take a dime, said attorney Sam Adam Jr. in his opening statement today.
Insisting that not so much as a penny of corrupt money went into his client’s own pocket or campaign fund, Adam said Blagojevich simply trusted the wrong people.
“You have to be comatose not to figure out how to get a dollar out of $52 billion,” said Adam, giving the amount of the state’s annual budget and pointing out that Blagojevich is broke. “But who didn’t? Him!”
Earlier related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Blago Lawyer: ‘He’s a Celebrity Idiot’; Judge: Juror IDs Secret Until After Trial”
ABAJournal.com: “Blagojevich Defense Team Brings Color and Charisma to Court”
ABAJournal.com: “Obama’s Chief of Staff Is Subpoenaed as a Defense Witness in Blagojevich Corruption Trial”
