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Defense rests; no witnesses, including ex-governor

Lawyers for Rod Blagojevich told the judge presiding over his corruption trial this morning that the former governor will indeed not testify in his own defense. The defense rested its case without calling a single witness.

As the announcement was made in court, Blagojevich sat still with his hands folded on the defense table, then gave a glance and slight wink to wife, Patti.

Closing arguments are expected to begin Monday.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel questioned Blagojevich directly about his decision.

After stating his name, Blagojevich said he understood the decision he was making. "Yes, judge, fully and completely," Blagojevich said.

"It is my decision, under the advice of my attorneys,” he said. “I make the decision fully and voluntarily.”

Outside the 25th-floor courtroom, Blagojevich nodded and waved at spectators.

"Sometimes you've gotta listen to the advice of your lawyers" the former governor told reporters. 

The jury has been sent home until Monday when they will return for the closing arguments.

Lawyers in the case are scheduled to return to the courtroom at 1:30 p.m. today to work out legal instructions for the jurors.

This morning's announcement confirmed what Blagojevich's legal team indicated to U.S. District Judge James Zagel late Tuesday afternoon.

-- Jeff Coen, John Chase and Stacy St. Clair



There's more to this tactic than we know. My feeling is that this goes all the way up to the White House, and the defense does not want to bring that out. Why, all of a sudden, was the Prez here on Memorial Day weekend, after not being around for 15 months, and, with this trial starting in June??? The Democratic Party looks bad enough as it is; this was done to save what little face it has left in a mid-term election year. Rod is taking one for the team. I believe that this is a scandal of huge proportions. Voters need to be more educated and vote the person instead of the party. It is beyond me how this moron was elected TWICE.

My feeling is that he will be found guilty.

Send him to Azkaban and let the Death Eaters take care of him.

It’s all relative.
My bet: acquitted!
He won't take the stand because that open a door to character (good or bad) that might outweigh perjury against him

I knew all along he was not going to get on the stand. He is a bleepin liar. Even if he did get up on the stand, would he tell anything other than lies? I hope they do not take more than 5 minutes to come back with a guilty verdict! That would make my day to see them haul his ass off to jail. They can put him in the cell next to that liar Ryan!

@ Dave -- I've been reading your comments on here for most of the trial, and have found them to be consistantly in such zealous support of Blago, even in the face of hard core, indisputable facts that it has boggled my mind. All that aside, I'd like to hear how you, some dude on a web forum have had a chance to EXAMINE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE, as you claim to have done.

BTW - Just as a reminder to you, there are a lot of other charges than just conspiring to sell that f-ing golden senate seat, including several charges for actions that don't need to be consumated for a defendant to be guilty. It's about intent, and from what I've seen, there's PLENTY of intent on those tapes.

I am curious as to why Zagel was so involved in whether Rod would testify or not, from making them sleep on it to asking him this morning. It seems like he was goading him into doing it. And to stave off the usual idiots who may call me a Rod apologist, I sincerely hope he is found guilty, I am just curious at the Judge's motives.

It's truly amazing how people can listen to all of the evidence and think that there could be an acquittal. He was conspiring to make money and subvert the office and the system even before he actually was the Governor. He left Pat Quinn and Illinois with a $13 billion dollar deficit! If he spent as much time actually working for the people as he did in front of a mirror, he would still be the Governor and Illinois would not be laying off teachers. Here is a simple IQ test; Is Blago guilty? If you said No, you not only fail the test, you reveal that you may be as dishonest as he is. Don't get mad.

I am not a lawyer and do not play one on tv or in the chat rooms. I have been following this case and I believe they did prove at least one of the three crimes he was being charged. How much time does he really need to spend in jail? I think the prosecutor proved the extortion and attempted extortion. Maybe not completely the pay for play on the Senator Seat.

How will Jesse Junior be affected?

I am more curious about how the fruit of the poison tree falls on Mayor Daley - with Jon Burge convicted of lying, it would seem to me the Cook County prosecutor had to have some knowledge of the fallacy of the confession presented.

Some of you folks really need to take a civics lesson. How could Blago not testifying be orchestrated by Obama's DOJ? Blago has finally bed exposed to everyone as the fraud that he is. His BS is so transparent. Now that Rod is going to the can for a few years, anyone want to take bets on how quickly Papa Mell finds Patti a six-figure gig somewhere?

I smell a fix.

Despite both sides apparently going to war, in a single week we have:
The prosecution suddenly abandons its case and rests unexpectedly.
The defense calls not a single witness after subpoenaing the whole white house.

Look for a surprising not guilty, yet he won’t seek to be reinstated as governor.

Jarrett, Reszko, Emanuel, Jackson, Jr. Illinois’ most corrupt, all set damage themselves by testifying.

This corrupt bunch not only gets away with it, but they even send one of their own to the white house using their typical tactics.

No way can you convince me that a deal wasn’t cut between Blogo and the White House. Somehow, Obama, although surrounded and promoted by the most corrupt group in political history is above these tactics? Even though he uses them to advance his agenda? It couldn’t be more obvious.

They've got somebody on the jury who won't convict. The fix is in. This is Illinois!

It is time to buy Stock in a paint company that manufactures "WHITE WASH PAINT" or should it be BLACK WASH Paint?

If the prosecution hadn't made a prima facie case, then why didn't the defense team ask for a directed verdict before Blago's brother took the stand?

Clearly, the prosecution made a case, although it was weak enough that a jury could still find the defendants not guilty.

If Blago is so sure that the Feds made his case, then will his attorneys ask for a directed verdict before closing arguments?

He can say all he wants that his case has been proven, but any lawyer who tries cases knows that juries can and will do strange things.

Even if the evidence is in Blago's favor, the jury could be irked that Blago didn't testify, as promised in opening statements. Juries that feel one side hasn't been forthcoming often lose.

The defense can say all it wants that the conversations on the tapes were simply talk and/or horse trading. Yet, the question is whether the defense's interpretation reasonable doubt.

In other words, is the idea that the conversaitons were just talk and not about schemes to profit reasonable?

It's up to the jury to decide of it's just talk, or whether is it unreasonable to believe the defense intrepretation.

One could argue that a fair, honst public servant, whether an elected official, an appointed official, or a public employee, doesn't joke about selling Senate seats or shaking down people for contributions, because that talk can be taken seriously.

Umm Chuck, Patti took money for access, a number of people testified that they paid him off through his 'Friends of Blago'. That is (at minimum) conspiracy. Patti getting paid for no work is obviously a bribe. (Just think of EVERY politician saying 'give my wife a job getting paid for doing nothing or you get nothing'. That is very very against the law. You really dont know what you are talking about.

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Rod Blagojevich Photos: On trial | Ex-governor of Illinois
• "Lon" Monk
• Barack Obama
• John Harris
• Joseph Aramanda
• Jury
• Opening statements
• Rahm Emanuel
• Rod and Patti
• Wiretap tapes
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