Rod Blagojevich: December 2009 Archives

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.

Read more at SunTimes.com

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.

Read more at SunTimes.com

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.

Read more at SunTimes.com