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Genson Frustrated Over Availablity of Defense Witnesses
There are people who could help Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment defense, but his lawyer is upset the Special Investigative Committee will not let him call them.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is investigating the governor for, among other things, allegedly trying to sell an appointment to the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Lawyer Ed Genson believes testimony from Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and potential Senate appointees Valerie Jarrett and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago) would help the governor's case. Genson would also like to subpoena someone connected to the Tribune Co. to refute claims of a shakedown attempt over state help to sell Wrigley Field.

While the committee does have the authority to subpoena anybody it wishes, its chairman, State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), says she will not do anything that could compromise the U.S. attorney's case. She suggests Blagojevich himself could testify, to which Genson says, "He has a Fifth Amendment right. He's exercising it. If some of you are going to use that against him, that is not due process."

The committee is awaiting word on the availability of some taped telephone conversations before deciding how and when to proceed. A judge in Chicago will decide Monday (January 5th) whether to release those tapes.

(Illinois Radio Network)
01 01 09 by Newsroom
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