Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet reports today that Rod Blagojevich's lawyers have subpoenaed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to testify at the ousted governor's upcoming corruption trial.
Whether Reid will actually take the stand is not yet decided.
But Blagojevich's lawyers likely want to show jurors that the senate pick was a political decision that involved his receiving pressure from some of the most powerful politicians in the country.
Blagojevich's lawyers, who also subpoenaed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, (they were blocked from calling President Obama as a witness), have said the former governor was just engaged in political horse trading when he was captured on wiretapped calls describing the open senate seat as "f------ golden"
Blagojevich is charged with trying to leverage his power to appoint a U.S. Senator into a personal benefit for himself or his wife.
In a Dec. 4, 2008 conversation, Reid, who is not accused of wrongdoing, discussed with Blagojevich possible U.S. Senate seat appointees to fill Barack Obama's vacancy with Blagojevich, the Sun-Times has previously reported.
Reid had encouraged Blagojevich to appoint state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the post. Reid recommended against appointing Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones, arguing they wouldn't be viable candidates in future elections.