InfoAnda - Blagojevich Corruption Trial Set To Begin Thursday

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Home U.S. World Entertainment Sports Business Health Science Technology Politics Offbeat Environment Travel News Articles Blagojevich Corruption Trial Set To Begin Thursday Email Facebook Digg Twitter Buzz Up! ShareThis June 2, 2010 10:53 a.m. EST Topics: government, politics, trials, public officials, crime, law and justice, United States Kris Alingod - AHN News Contributor Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) - The trial of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich on two dozen corruption charges begins Thursday for what is expected to be months of colorful court proceedings akin to the reality show Blagojevich starred in this year. Consistent with his continuing media blitz, the former governor set up a Twitter account on Monday to prepare for the trial. He said in his final radio show on WLS-AM over the weekend, "My government is doing something very wrong to me and my family... That soon will be over when we begin on Thursday... Whether you voted for me or not... you should know I did not do these things and I am an honest man." The proceedings will be presided over by U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who so far has stood his ground in the face of Blagojevich's antics, which include an effort to subpoena President Barack Obama, a role in "Celebrity Apprentice," a memoir, a request to be part of a show in Costa Rica, and an Elvis impersonator citation from Time magazine. One action did merit a stern warning from Zagel. The judge told Blagojevich in April that "the legal equivalent of head butts" would not be allowed in his courtroom and the trial "is not a sporting event" after the former governor called prosecutors "cowards and liars" and challenged U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to be "man enough" to attend a hearing about federal wiretaps to be used as evidence against him. Blagojevich, 53, was indicted last year on 16 felony counts, together with his brother Rob, former chief of staff John Harris, associate Alonzo Monk, and fundraisers William Cellini and Christopher Kelly. New charges were filed against the former governor when federal prosecutors revised their indictment to include similar allegations, such as attempting to sell the former Senate seat of President Barack Obama, that are not based on violations of the honest services fraud law. The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing three cases challenging the constitutionality of the law that makes it illegal for public officials to deprive taxpayers of their right to honest services. Prosecutors revised the indictment against Blagojevich in February to prevent any problems if the high court strikes down the law, which critics say is too vague. Blagojevich, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, had sought to delay his trial until after a ruling from the Supreme Court but a federal appeals court rejected his request last month. His lawyers had asked that proceedings begin in November so they could have more time to study new evidence and the implications of the Supreme Court ruling. Blagojevich was impeached in January 2009 following the unanimous decision of the state Senate, which voted after hearing him on federally wiretapped conversations allegedly trying to extort money from a racetrack operator. In one of four tapes played during his impeachment trial, Blagojevich's brother Robert can be heard saying,"Talked to Lon, and he said Johnny Johnson's good for it...Ron's gonna talk to you about sensitivities legislatively tonight when he sees you. With regard to timing of all of this." Blagojevich replies, "Right...Before the end of the year, though, right?" The former governor allegedly tried to get $100,000 in campaign contributions from a racetrack executive believed to be Johnston in return for signing legislation directing a portion of casino revenues to the horse racing industry. Blagojevich was allegedly looking to receive the donations before the end of the year because a new ethics law banning donations from state contractors was scheduled to take effect on the first day of 2009. Blagojevich is seeking to have all wiretaps played during his trial and not just sections chosen by prosecutors. "I have a constitutional right to try to suppress these tapes," he said in a statement early this year. "I'm not going to hide behind my lawyers... I challenge the government if you're on the side of truth... Play the tapes... and play the whole truth." The recordings, portions of which were publicly released last year, include a conversation between his brother and Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL), whom Blagojevich ultimately appointed to the Senate seat of Obama. "It has so many negative connotations that Burris is trying to buy an appointment... I'm trying to figure out how to deal with this and still be in the consideration for the appointment," Burris says in the recording. "If I do that I guarantee you that, that will get out and people said, oh, Burris is doing a fundraiser and, and then Rod and I both gonna catch hell..." Burris adds, "I know I could give him a check... And, and my law partner we were gonna try to do something at the law firm. I might be able to do this in the name of Tim Wright...." Prosecutors say Blagojevich received "substantial campaign fundraising assistance" from individuals seeking the appointment to fill Obama's former Senate seat. The individuals allegedly included a senate candidate whose associate allegedly offered $1.5 million in campaign money for an appointment. According to a federal document released in April, Blagojevich met with his co-conspirators in 2003 to discuss "their efforts to make money from state action." Convicted lobbyist Tony Rezko led the meeting and wielded "significant influence" over appointments to state boards and commissions along with a Blagojevich co-accused, Kelly, who took his life last September after pleading guilty and a failed suicide attempt. Copyright © 2003 - 2010 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication. Most Popular Stories Michael Jackson's Kids To Get $33 Million Each Kristen Stewart, Britney Spears Among FHM’s “Sexiest Women In The World” Michelle "Bombshell" McGee Insists She's Not Racist But Just Anti-Semitic Davis Loses Bid To Become Alabama's First Black Governor Whale Wars Activist Denies Hurting Japanese Whalers In Trial Quebec Fire Plume Reaches Ontario, Vermont Military Aircraft Injures 10 In Memorial Day Demonstration No Takers For "Real Housewife" Bethenny Frankel's $100,000 First Baby Photos Offer Italy Cuts NJ Native Rossi, Four Others; 23-Man World Cup Squad Set Tiger Woods Heads For Memorial With Uncertainty In Life, Game Recent Posts Most Popular Comments Recent Comments Popular Threads Home | U.S. | World | Entertainment | Sports | Business | Health | Sci / Tech | Politics | Weird / Offbeat Follow AHN on Twitter AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news Client Login | Submit News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Content Services © 2010 AHN All Rights Reserved

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