Reporting with Natasha Korecki, Dave McKinney and Abdon Pallasch
Sam Adam Jr. leaps back into his closing argument. The topic? The ex-governor's $400,000 wardrobe.
Jurors learned a few weeks ago that Rod Blagojevich spent $400,000 on clothes during his six years in the governor's seat -- largely on custom suits and pricey ties.
"You know why he spent $400,000 on suits in six years?" Adam says. "Because he's a politician. A CEO for the state of Illinois. He's on the front page of the paper every day. They have media every day. You gotta look the part."
"Why did Sarah Palin spend $150,000 on her wardrobe?" he says. "Now she's getting $150,000 for a speech."
"He's broke, man, BROKE! When I say broke, I mean BROKE!"
Adam brings up that Blagojevich paid $500,000 in federal taxes while he was governor. That was really his No. 1 expenditure during those years -- a fact the government failed to tell the jury, Adam says.
"He's paying for his own prosecution!" Adam screams, pointing to the prosecution table. "This is crazy!"
Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton looks up and stares into the distance.
Blago's finances have been a hot topic during the trial. The government has portrayed him as money-hungry and drowning in debt, as reasons for his alleged swindling. The defense has portrayed him as a flat-out family man -- proof that he didn't take any bribes.
The man is broke because he spent all of his money on clothes to wear to his job where he worked 8 or 9 hours a week.