The federal judge overseeing the case of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich today slaps down his "blunderbuss" bid for an early return on witness statements -- including a request for a report on the FBI's interview of now-President Obama.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel today noted that a recent motion filed by Blagojevich's lawyers contained no legal citations in its request that the government give them rush copies of witness statements.
"The blunderbuss demand for everything to be turned over sooner than the law allows is not well made," Zagel said, adding:
"The volume of discovery already
produced far exceeds that required by established law."
Zagel makes it plain he is not amused with a recent filing by Blagojevich attorneys, which at one point criticizes the government for securing its witness list as if the defendant were "Tony Soprano" and not the ousted governor of Illinois.
Zagel calls the recent pleading by Blagojevich lawyers: "an assortment of rhetorical flourishes oddly detached from the issues in this case, in one instance invoking the case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and, in
another, pleading that Defendant needs certain evidence to establish his innocence. This last statement ignores the well-known principle that a defendant does not carry a burden of establishing his innocence; instead, a burden of establishing guilt belongs to the prosecution."
Ex-governor Rod Blagojevich is scheduled to appear in Chicago Wednesday morning for his arraignment on a new charges returned last week by a federal grand jury. On Thursday, Blagojevich was hit with an additional eight charges in a new indictment designed to withstand an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on the honest services statute. The high court is poised to overhaul the honest services law, which made up the bulk of the original charges against Blagojevich and his brother, Robert.
Court security is already preparing for what's likely to be another mob scene outside the downtown federal courthouse in Chicago when the former governor is expected --as of now -- to appear at 11 a.m. Wednesday, said Acting U.S. Marshal John O'Malley.
Deputy marshals are arranging for a controlled entry for Blagojevich, who has gained national fame, including for his upcoming appearance on "Celebrity Apprentice."
Robert Blagojevich as well as former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris and lobbyist friend Lon Monk, will likely be arraigned on another date.
A federal grand jury returned a new indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his brother this afternoon, in a move aimed at avoiding problems with a disputed law now being weighed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The 113-page indictment adds eight new charges against Blagojevich and others and among the charges is the alleged attempted extortion of Rahm Emanuel and Emanuel's brother when the now-Presidential chief of staff was a congressman.
Rod Blagojevich now faces 24 counts in all. The eight new counts do not involve violating the honest services statute and lawyers for Blagojevich say the charges do not allege any new conduct.
"It merely alleges the same old, same old under different legal theories," said Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky.
Another Rod Blagojevich lawyer, Aaron Goldstein, said the new charges will not translate into a trial date extension. He said the new indictment reflects a difference in legal reasoning by the government rather than substantive differences.
"It doesn't change the strategy at all. We've maintained from day one that the governor is innocent," Goldstein said. "The core facts are the same and that is that he didn't do anything wrong. We anticipate being ready, and we anticipate going forward. The governor's maintained from day one that he's done nothing wrong and our stance is the same since the day he was arrested."
But the lawyer for Rob Blagojevich wasn't so sure. Attorney Michael Ettinger said the new charges alter his defense strategy and means he will have to listen to hundreds of hours of tape again.
The bribery conspiracy, attempted extortion and extortion conspiracy charges puts the ex-governor's brother in the middle of the "whole process of appointing a senator," instead of more minimal involvement, Ettinger said.
"These are different factual allegations for my client," Ettinger said. "Because how I listened to them the first time, I paid attention to different factual allegations."
The new charges are: racketeering, attempted extortion involving Emanuel and his brother, bribery involving the CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital, bribery involving a construction executive, conspiracy to commit bribery involving a Racetrack executive, conspiracy to commit extortion tied to appointing a U.S. Senator, attempted extortion in relation to a U.S. Senate seat appointment and conspiracy to commit bribery involving the senate seat appointment.
Prosecutors added the new charges for similar conduct against the Blagojevich brothers as a legal maneuver to help keep the case on track for a June trial even if the Supreme Court strikes down the honest services statute beforehand.
The high court has taken up three cases dealing with the honest services statute -- something the Blagojevich brothers are now accused of violating.
The new indictment likely means that both the ex-governor and his brother, of Nashville, Tenn., will soon make an appearance again in federal court to formally enter a plea to the new indictment.
Even if honest services is revamped, U.S. District Judge James Zagel has said he was unlikely to give much of an extension.
Sun-Times photo by Jean Lachat
Robert Blagojevich talks to the Chicago Sun-Times last fall.
Our indicted ex-governor Rod Blagojevich is among the "celebrities" Sports Illustrated online features in forecasting the outcome to this weekend's Super Bowl.
But Blagojevich, who will appear on "Celebrity Apprentice," this Spring: "does not consider himself to be a celebrity," says Glenn Selig, Blagojevich's publicity agent who sent out a release noting Blagojevich joined Usher, Jimmy Kimmel, Valerie Bertinelli and others on the site. Blago's prediction: Indianapolis Colts 38-31 over the New Orleans Saints.
Says Blagojevich on SI.com: "The Colts' offense is better than the Saints' offense because they have the most valuable player in football, Peyton Manning. And the Colts' defense is better and faster than the Saints' defense. The only advantage the Saints have is on special teams, but that's not enough to overcome the advantage the Colts have on both offense and defense."
Blagojevich and his brother, Rob, are expected to be re-indicted by a federal grand jury tomorrow.
Federal prosecutors expect a grand jury to return a new indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his brother next week, they said in court today.
Prosecutors are expected to reindict the governor and Rob Blagojevich to help avoid problems with a disputed law that's being weighed this session by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar said that would likely happen by the end of next week.
That likely means that both the ex-governor and his brother will soon make an appearance again in federal court to formally enter a plea to the new indictment.
The high court is looking at three cases dealing with the honest services statute -- something the Blagojevich brothers are now accused of violating.
The new indictment isn't expected to break new ground.
"It is anticipated that any new charges would be based on the underlying conduct that currently encompasses the pending charges," prosecutors wrote in a December filing.
Defense lawyers have said they would seek a delay in the trial if the high court ends up throwing out the honest services statute, but U.S. District Judge James Zagel has said he was unlikely to give much of an extension.
Rod Blagojevich lawyer Sam Adam Jr. said his team will do all it can to be ready for trial as scheduled in June. He said he and the former governor have yet to finish listening to the hundreds of hours of recordings in the case.
Attorney for Rob Blagojevich, Michael Ettinger, said he believes the government will charge his client with extortion for the same underlying alleged conduct involving discussions for a campaign contribution. Ettinger said a new charge -- even if it's based on the same conduct -- could change the strategy of the defense.
"We'd have to go over the tapes again and prepare the defense for new conduct," Ettinger said.
Milorad Soprano?
Hmmm.
Attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (birthname, Milorad) lashed out at the government for not wanting to turn over an advanced copy of its witness list. The government cited many reasons, including security.
"This defendant is Rod Blagojevich, not Tony Soprano," lawyers wrote. This is the trial of the former governor for alleged non-violent offenses, not a replay of the Family Secrets (mob) trial."
Blagojevich's attorneys were responding to prosecutors who are holding back their list, saying there will be plenty of opportunity to get a handle on witnesses closer to the June trial.
"The security and potential harassment of the potential witnesses cuts against providing the defendants with a list of witness identities," prosecutors recently wrote in a court filing.
Lawyers asked again for an early return on statements made by witnesses to the FBI. That includes President Obama and his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who were interviewed by the FBI in 2008 after Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.
Prosecutors technically don't have to turn over that information until the time of trial. But they've said they will hand over witness statements three months ahead of time, or in March.
Rod Blagojevich has unapologetically compared himself to Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
But minutes after news of his "blacker than Barack Obama" remarks became public this morning, the former governor was scrambling to set up a news conference to apologize.
In the February issue of Esquire magazine, Blagojevich says he had a tougher time growing up than Obama.
"I'm blacker than Barack Obama," Blagojevich told the magazine. "I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up."
Perhaps realizing his remarks could alienate potential jurors for his June trial -- who hail from Obama's home state, which overwhelmingly voted for Obama -- Blagojevich this morning held a news conference from his home saying the comment was "stupid, stupid, stupid."
It was meant as a metaphor, he said, adding that he was obviously not blacker than the president.
It may be the first time Blagojevich has publicly apologized for anything since his December 2008 arrest on corruption charges.
Blagojevich launched a media offensive following his charges, saying the morning of his arrest he felt the same way he imagined some of the world's greatest human rights activists must have felt when they were persecuted.
He's scheduled to go on trial in June with his brother, Rob Blagojevich.
Read the Esquire Magazine story: "The Notorious Blago"
Rod Blagojevich called statements he made to Esquire magazine 'a stupid thing to say' this morning on WLS-AM radio.
Blagojevich said he was blacker than President Obama because he grew up poor and at one point shined shoes.
"I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived," Blagojevich said. "I saw it all growing up."
This morning when word of his comments broke, he called a news conference in front of his North Side home to apologize.
Rod Blagojevich's brother, Robert, is asking a judge to keep private 208 phone calls he says the FBI wrongly intercepted as part of its investigation into the former governor.
A defense court pleading filed today reveals that the feds captured more than 1,500 phone calls from the cell phone of Rob Blagojevich during their covert investigation last year.
As part of the FBI's wiretapping operation, they captured more than five hours of private conversations between Robert Blagojevich and his wife or between himself and his son. Those conversations should not have been part of FBI eavesdropping and were a violation of a court order and the law, contends Michael Ettinger, Rob Blagojevich's lawyer.
"To the extent that they did it, my client is extremely upset as is his wife," Ettinger said. Ettinger said there's nothing illicit in the conversations -- but they're private.
"It's wrong, they violated the statute. And it's the principle of it. They can't break the law and get away with it," Ettinger said.
Rob Blagojevich, a Nashville, Tenn. resident who was heading his brother's campaign fund last year, was eventually charged with two counts of wire fraud -- tied to a controversial honest services statute.
So if they're asking to suppress just these tapes -- does that mean that the defense isn't objecting to thousands of phone calls that were captured?
"That's an excellent question. This is the first step to subsequent motions regarding the tapes and that's all I'm going to say," Ettinger said.
In an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times last fall, Rob and his wife, Julie said they were horrified at the level of privacy penetrated by the FBI. Julie Blagojevich said she cried the first time she heard her voice on tape. Neither she, nor their son, were part of the investigation and agents should have shut down recording when they heard family members' voices.
AP
Rod Blagojevich's lawyers believe there's one person who will say he knew nothing about a quid-pro-quo for a U.S. Senate seat and he happens to be the President of the United States.
The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Saturday that defense lawyers were seeking material involving the FBI's interviews of then-President Elect Barack Obama. Former Gov. Blagojevich faces charges he tried selling an appointment to Obama's senate seat in exchange for campaign cash or other personal benefits.
Defense lawyers want an early return on an FBI interview of then-President-Elect Obama concerning his staff's contacts with Blagojevich and the ex-governor's staff.
I asked defense lawyers Monday what was so pressing about getting this information. They told me they wanted an early line on whether they will call Obama as a witness.
After a court hearing Wednesday, Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam Jr. said he thinks Obama would make an "awesome" witness.
Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson said the defense must clear major hurdles before coming close to the president.
The White House can cite a myriad of reasons not to testify -- everything from National
Security, to schedule conflicts to forcing the defense to find alternate options.
"Lots of options before you see President Obama traipsing into Rod Blagojevich's trial,"
she said.
Rod Blagojevich's defense lawyers said this weekend they're seeking all transcripts, notes and any other information regarding the FBI's Dec. 2008 interviews of then-President Elect Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett and others.
Defense lawyers said they need the information early so they can prepare for June trial, which will center in part, on charges that Blagojevich attempted to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. (As governor, Blagojevich had the sole power to appoint Obama's replacement).
Emanuel was caught on wiretap discussing political moves with Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, including discussing Jarrett as an appointment possibility, the Sun-Times has previously reported.
Federal prosecutors may reindict former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to help avoid problems with a possible U.S. Supreme Court decision, prosecutors said in a court filing today.
The high court is looking at three cases dealing with the honest services statute -- something Blagojevich is now accused of violating. Blagojevich's defense team had asked for a trial delay to see how a Supreme Court's ruling may affect his case.
Authorities are executing a search warrant today in connection with the theft of laptops in the case of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Sun-Times has learned.
Sources say police have a solid lead on a suspect who may have broken into the South Side offices of Sam Adam and Sam Adam Jr., Blagojevich's attorneys.
Authorities are investigating a break-in at the South Side offices of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lawyers, where a handful of laptop computers used in the ex-governor's case were stolen.
Eight computers and a safe were swiped Thursday from the office of veteran criminal defense attorneys Sam Adam and his son Sam Adam Jr., Deputy Supt. Steve Peterson said.
Sam Adam Jr. said eight to 10 laptops were taken -- about half of which dealt with the Blagojevich case.
However, Adam said he's "99 percent sure" sensitive material was not on those laptops. The laptops link up to a main server where the sensitive material -- including tapes and transcripts that are not public -- is stored.
Tapes and transcripts were not downloaded on the laptops, but Adam said they're still determining whether anything sensitive may have been stored in the computers' temporary files.
In a letter of admonition, the U.S. Senate ethics committee said U.S. Sen. Roland Burris was "misleading" and "inconsistent" in his statements before an Illinois House impeachment panel and less than candid about his failure to disclose various contacts with Rod Blagojevich's administration.
Before the ethics panel's letter was made public, Burris put out a press statement indicating he was "cleared of legal wrongdoing."
The initial headlines went up.
And then ... the delete button.
In its Friday letter, the ethics committee said Burris gave "multiple and at times contradictory explanations for failing to disclose all your contacts with the governor's associates."
The ethics inquiry was launched earlier this year after the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that Burris' testimony before an Illinois House panel investigating Rod Blagojevich's impeachment lacked critical details about his dealings with the ex-governor's brother.
Burris added to his testimony in a written affidavit, which was first made public in the Sun-Times after the paper raised questions to the senator about his discussions with Robert Blagojevich.
The letter goes on to say that Burris' recorded conversation with Robert Blagojevich about fund-raising was "innappropriate," but did not rise to the level of an explicit quid pro quo.
But it faulted Burris with failing to disclose the conversation with the brother of the ex-governor before he was seated in the U.S. Senate.
"You should have known that any conversations you had about your desire to seek the Senate seat and about any possible fund-raising for the governor were critical to these inquiries," the letter stated.
The ethics panel said Burris didn't break the law, however: "Senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct."
Sun-Times editorial: "Burris lied, then lied about lying."
New York Times: 'A sternly worded rebuke.'
Chicago Tribune's Steve Chapman: "Burris is a lying snake."
Lynn Sweet: No charges coming
U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) was admonished Friday by the U.S. Senate ethics committee over his testimony in Springfield concerning how he got appointed to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. The committee's inquiry and subsequent reprimand comes after a Chicago Sun-Times investigation brought to light Burris' inconsistent statements before a panel weighing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.
In a sworn statement filed with the House panel Jan. 5, before he testified, Burris said he had no contact with Blagojevich's camp about the Senate seat aside from his appointment in late December of last year.
In testimony before the committee, he disclosed only that he spoke with Lon Monk, Blagojevich's former chief of staff.
Three weeks after he was sworn into his Senate seat, Burris filed a supplemental affidavit revealing he also spoke with Robert Blagojevich -- the ex-governor's brother and fund-raising chair -- as well as Blagojevich insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma.
The Sun-Times reported in October that the Senate ethics panel was still weighing action against Burris even after he announced he would not seek election next year.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel on Monday approved a bid from William Cellini to be tried separate from ex-governor Rod Blagojevich. The government and Cellini's lawyers agreed last week that the two should be tried separately because there wasn't enough overlap between the two cases.
Meanwhile, the former governor's brother, Rob, will also ask to be tried separately, his lawyer, Michael Ettinger, said today.
Here's a statement from Cellini's lawyer, Dan Webb:
"Today's ruling by Judge Zagel granting the Government's motion to hold a separate trial for my client from former Governor Blagojevich demonstrates what we have said all along - that there was never any justification for including Bill Cellini in any indictment with former Governor Blagojevich. "The allegations against former Governor Blagojevich have absolutely nothing to do with Bill Cellini. Months ago, Mr. Cellini executed an affidavit stating that he does not now nor has he ever had a relationship with former Governor Blagojevich. Mr. Cellini has never spoken on the telephone with former Governor Blagojevich nor has he ever had a substantive or private conversation with former Governor Blagojevich on any topic, including fund raising. Moreover, Mr. Cellini is a lifelong Republican who supported both Jim Ryan and Judy Barr-Topinka in their campaigns against Rod Blagojevich.
"Bill Cellini was never aware of, nor involved with anyone in the Blagojevich group in the alleged fund-raising scheme. Bill is completely innocent of these charges and will continue to vigorously fight these charges as he has done since the day he was indicted. Bill is confident that a jury will find him not guilty."
And then there were two.
Rod Blagojevich and his brother, Rob, will go to trial without anyone else next year after the government agreed to try Downstate businessman William Cellini separately.
Cellini was charged in 2008 with allegedly trying to shake down a movie producer seeking to do business with the state's school pension board.
When the former governor and his brother were indicted in April, prosecutors superseded their case onto Cellini's, creating speculation they were trying to "pick" their judge.
Cellini's lawyers from the beginning argued their client had nothing to do with the ex-governor's case and should be tried separately.
The government disagreed at the time.
But since then, two defendants in the case dropped out of the trial.
Two former aides charged in the case -- John Harris and Lon Monk -- each pleaded guilty.
But most significantly, Christopher Kelly, who died of an apparent suicide, is no longer part of the case. Prosecutors say Kelly was the bridge between Cellini and the former governor.
"It was the allegations and evidence against Kelly that provided much of the rationale to keep the defendants together in one trial," prosecutors wrote in a filing today. "As the government no longer needs to prove the allegations against Kelly, who was integrally involved in the activities underlying the charges against both Cellini and Rod Blagojevich, there is now significantly less overlap in the evidence that the government anticipates would be introduced against Rod Blagojevich and Cellini."
The government points out that Cellini is not charged in any count with either Blagojevich.
The matter is up before U.S. District Judge James Zagel next week.
Rod Blagojevich's lawyers are asking a federal judge to move his trial date from June of next year to September, arguing they're awaiting a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that could affect the case.
In a new court filing, Blagojevich's lawyers say the high court could come down with a decision concerning the honest services statute just before the ex-governor is set for trial.
Both Rod Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich face charges involving the honest services statute. The Supreme Court last month signaled it was on a path to redefine the statute that is often criticized for being too vague and giving prosecutors too much leeway in filing charges.
The statute is often used by prosecutors to charge public officials and others of depriving the public of their right to "honest services." But just when that line is crossed is open to interpretation, critics say.
Lon Monk's guilty plea Tuesday ramps up the pressure on Rod Blagojevich.
From the Sun-Times today: Blagojevich has repeatedly sought to distance himself from Tony Rezko, essentially claiming that Rezko duped him. Monk's plea not only puts the two in the same room, but it also alleges that Blagojevich gave both Rezko and Kelly free rein over his administration. Monk "understood that Blagojevich and [Monk] would use their power and authority in state government as needed to assist whatever plans Rezko and Kelly put in place to make money," the plea states.
From the Chicago Tribune: Pulling back the curtain on how Blagojevich and his cohorts allegedly went about their plan, Monk's plea suggests a possible pattern of political crimes that took place well before Blagojevich allegedly offered the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama to the highest bidder. As part of his deal, Monk told prosecutors that he, Blagojevich and key fundraisers Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Christopher Kelly repeatedly met about how the four of them could secretly make money through state deals, offering the most specific account yet of how the alleged conspiracy in the case formed.
From AP: The plea is guaranteed to be a blow to Blagojevich, who is scheduled to stand trial starting June 3 on corruption charges that included allegedly trying to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat President Barack Obama held.
A lawyer for ex-governor Rod Blagojevich deemed a slew of allegations leveled by onetime top aide Lon Monk: "one-thousand percent false."
In a plea deal made public today, Monk, 51, said there was an ongoing agreement among Blagojevich and his closest advisers that involved making hundreds of thousands of dollars off state business deals.
The money would be split four ways, according to Monk. The alleged recipients: Blagojevich, the now-deceased fund-raiser Christopher Kelly, convicted businessman Tony Rezko and Monk.
"That is completely false. One-thousand percent false," Sheldon Sorosky told the Sun-Times. "Blagojevich never participated in any deal or conference where he'd receive a kickback from any investments or any money that Rezko and Kelly made -- from the state or otherwise."
In a major victory for federal prosecutors, a longtime friend and ex-chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich said today he was an eyewitness to a litany of corruption under the former governor in a deal that pledges his cooperation in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Lon Monk, 51, of Decatur, said in his plea agreement that during the ex-governor's first term in office, there was an ongoing agreement among Blagojevich's closest advisers involving making tens of thousands of dollars off of state business.
The money would be split four ways, according to the plea. The alleged recipients: Blagojevich, the now-deceased Christopher Kelly, convicted businessman Tony Rezko and Monk.
Monk admitted to knowing about a variety of alleged schemes, but pleaded guilty to just one charge -- that he schemed with the ex-governor to shake down a racetrack businessman for a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for the governor's signature on a pending piece of legislation that would benefit horse racing in Illinois. Some of the conversations related to the scheme were caught on tape, according to the plea.
He was charged in just one count in a wide-reaching corruption case, but Rod Blagojevich's former chief of staff is expected to be a key government witness against his old boss -- and friend.
Lon Monk is slotted to plead guilty this morning in federal court, his lawyer said.
Monk's plea deal has been pending for months and was rescheduled at least twice.
Reached Monday, Monk's lawyer had no comment when asked if negotiations with the government were jammed up over the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to take up three cases that challenge the government's use of the honest services statute.
Monk's one charge is predicated on that statute. However, he's also mentioned elsewhere in the indictment.
Monk's cooperation is significant because he is a longtime, close friend of Blagojevich. The two were law school roommates and Monk was close to Blagojevich during both gubernatorial terms, either as a top aide or working for Blagojevich's campaign fund.
The Sun-Times first reported that the feds had tapped Monk's cell phone last year and secretly recorded numerous conversations.
That included a conversation between Monk and the ex-governor about an alleged shakedown of a horse-racing executive.
Even as a lobbyist, Monk was intensely involved in helping the ex-governor raise campaign cash up until the final months of 2008.
Rod Blagojevich's lawyer lashed out in a fiery diatribe this afternoon after prosecutors complained about his upcoming appearance on "Celebrity Apprentice."
Prosecutors in court said Blagojevich has discussed evidence in the case on TV and has misstated evidence. They didn't ask the judge to bar Blagojevich but raised issues about what the ex-governor might say on TV. U.S. District Judge James Zagel shared those concerns and asked the two sides to talk.
"This is a little mystifying. This is the first time I have ever heard of a
law enforcement official coming into court and saying: "Judge shut the
defendant up,'" Blagojevich's lawyer, Sam Adam Jr. said.
Adam went on a tirade about the government -- at one point bringing up
Guantanamo Bay tactics -- saying prosecutors had their press conference
after Blagojevich's arrest, but are trying to keep him from responding to
their charges.
The remarks came shortly after Zagel said he worried about
confessionals on the reality TV show and whether Blagojevich could complicate his own trial by speaking out of turn.
Zagel said it wasn't his job to worry about Blagojevich implicating himself, but feared the former governor could make remarks that would affect "the administration of the trial."
Zagel told both sides to talk and said nothing of blocking Blago's appearance.
Adam said he'd abide by any ruling, but said it was curious that prosecutors were trying to curb Blagojevich's speech.
"Give me a good, solid reason why a law enforcement official ... would want
him to shut up now," Adam said. "Because he's telling the truth. When he
comes out and says "I didn't do it,' he's telling the truth."
"Be quiet Mr. Blagojevich, you actually have an audience," Adam said,
mimicking the government. "You don't agree with what we've said in this, we
need you to shut up.'"
"We watched all these things that happened down in Guantanamo,"Adam
continued. "We've seen all the things over the years that have happened in
this country ...
Is that what we are left to? When you take an elected official, a governor,
rip him from his family at 6 o'clock in the morning and then say he did all
these things but you can't answer it? Is that really where we are?"
The Chicago Sun-Times reports today that the president of a topless bar was among those on a clout list who appeared to get people hired during Rod Blagojevich's administration.
Perry Mandera, of Glenview, was listed among clout-heavy political sponsors in a secret hiring database obtained by the Sun-Times.
Mandera's name was linked to 10 job candidates.
Four of the people on Mandera's list wound up getting state jobs, the records show.
Mandera, the president of a company that owns VIP's A Gentlemen's Club, a topless bar on the Near North Side, said he knew of no such list.
"I have no knowledge of what you're talking about," Mandera told a Sun-Times reporter. "This is the first time I'm hearing about this."
The Mandera report was the third report in a series about patronage under Blagojevich.
The first report indicated that Blagojevich ordered a hiring freeze while in state office, but, behind the scenes, "flouted the supposed freeze, forging a patronage machine that -- despite their boss' public promises -- eventually would provide state jobs or promotions to nearly 2,500 people with enough clout to have political sponsors."
On Sunday, the Sun-Times reported that the same lawmakers who forced the ex-governor's ouster, once begged him for jobs.
Natasha Korecki
Natasha Korecki is the Federal Courts Reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, covering federal news, corruption investigations and trials.
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