Blagojevich Tells of Senate Seat ‘Ugly’ Options; Lawyer Says Prosecutors Making Faces
A lawyer for Rod Blagojevich accused prosecutors on Tuesday of making faces during testimony by the former Illinois governor.
Blagojevich, on trial for alleged political corruption, testified Tuesday that he considered a political “horse trade” in naming someone to President Obama’s former Senate seat, but he intended to stay within the bounds of the law, report the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. He said he never intended to appoint U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson and he opposed the idea of accepting a campaign contribution for the appointment.
Blagojevich said he considered a number of options in filling the seat, including “good ones, bad ones, stupid ones, ugly ones.”
U.S. District Judge James Zagel warned the defense that he is considering a jury instruction on what constitutes legal horse trading, and the defense probably wouldn’t like it, according to the Sun-Times account.
Lawyer Lauren Kaeseberg complained Tuesday that prosecutors were having “animated discussions” while Blagojevich was on the stand, the Chicago Sun-Times reports in a separate story. “We just ask that they stop making faces while he’s testifying,” Kaeseberg said.
Prosecutor Reid Schar said he didn’t think prosecutors were making faces but “we’ll be mindful.”
