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Wiretaps Key as Blagojevich Goes on Trial
CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said on one talk show after another that he's innocent of trying to profit from his power to fill President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.

At a trial starting Thursday, he and his lawyers are finally going to plead their case to a jury. Blagojevich plans to take the stand in his own defense.

On the other side, prosecutors have 500 hours of secretly made FBI wiretap tapes in which they say Blagojevich plainly says he wants something in return for the "golden" Senate seat. Political insiders are also lined up to testify.

Blagojevich has also pleaded not guilty to trying to turn the governor's office into a powerful machine to pressure people for campaign money and payoffs.

The trial could last four months.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
06 01 10 by Newsroom
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