(IRN)-"I've got this thing and it's f'n golden. And I'm just not giving it up for f'n nothing," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Hamilton, quoting Rod Blagojevich in her closing argument Wednesday afternoon in the former governor's second corruption trial.
"You can hear him smiling. He's giddy," she said.
Hamilton got about an hour and half into the federal government's closing argument before the jury was dismissed Wednesday. Judge James Zagel has allotted prosecutors and the defense 4 hours apiece to close. Both sides are expected to finish Thursday with the jury set to come in Friday for their first full day of deliberations. Eight witnesses were called Wednesday before the government started to close. Among them were three FBI agents, two Canadian businessmen and former U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski who served from 1982 to 2004.
"I probably was the second public official after his father in law (Richard Mell) to publicly support (Blagojevich)," said Lipinski.
The former congressman testified that he never asked current U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) to contribute $25,000 to Blagojevich, something that contradicts previous testimony from Jackson. The prosecution asked Lipinski about contributions he made in 2002, some of which Lipinski did not remember. The prosecution also clarified that Blagojevich appointed Lipinski's wife to a state job. The prosecution called the two Canadian businessmen who work for heavy building materials company VCNA. They met with Blagojevich in September 2008 to talk about a toll-way project, among other things.
"We talked about the fact that he felt Obama was going to win the election. (Blagojevich) said he was the best damn governor in the U.S.," said Richard Olsen, President of VCNA.
During questioning, defense lawyer Sheldon Sorosky, while raising his voice, said "and not once did the governor say 'if you want help, you gotta make a contribution.'"
The prosecution objected. The judge told Sorosky to rephrase the question.
"(Blagojevich) didn't say, 'If you want me to help you, I need you to help me?'" asked Sorosky.
"No he did not," said Olsen.
Of the three FBI agents called to testify Wednesday, the defense called one – Jonathan Rouske.
"When you spoke to Krozel, did he tell you he felt the toll-way bill never depended on his fundraising efforts?" the defense asked Rouske. The agent interviewed road building executive Gerry Krozel about the alleged toll-way shakedown on the morning of December 9, 2008, the day Blagojevich was arrested.
"Yes he did," said Rouske.
Former Governor Blagojevich hasn't addressed the media since before taking the stand two weeks ago. He has, however, gone out of his way to shake hands and take pictures with fans outside of the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.
The prosecution will continue its closing arguments Thursday morning, with the defense scheduled to close shortly after.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
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