“It is my decision, judge,” Blagojevich said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “I made the decision freely.” Before the trial, the ex-governor maintained he would testify on his own behalf, a claim he reiterated as recently as Monday.
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com
The lawyers for Rod Blagojevich may ask the ex-Illinois governor to do what he’s least good at: Keeping his big yap shut.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that defense attorneys told U.S. District Judge James Zagel Tuesday afternoon that they planned to rest their case without presenting a witness, including Blagojevich, who had been expected to take the stand.
The paper reported that the judge, in a private conference, told lawyers to think about it overnight.
The Sun-Times reported that the father and son defense lawyer team — Sam Adam Sr. and Sam Adam Jr. — said they disagree over whether the ex-gov should testify.
The father thought he shouldn’t because the government failed to prove its case, the paper reported. The son said he should since he promised jurors in his opening statement that Blagojevich would testify.
To read more click here.
OTHER STORIES OF INTEREST
- Oakland Votes to Permit Large Marijuana Farms (AP)
- Suspect Denies Role in JFK Airport Plot (AP)
- Calif. Inmate Surrenders After Mistaken Release (AP)
- Texas Executes Man Who Killed 2 Opera Singers (AP)
- Astronaut Armstrong’s Customs Document Stolen (AP)
- Tenn. Pit Bull Attack Leaves Elderly Man Dead (AP)
- Van Thief Drops Filched Baby at To-Go Counter (AP)
- U.S. Jailed and Abused Citizen and Deported to Honduras For More Abuse (Courthouse News Service)
- Justice Dept. Calls for Probe of Federal Sentencing Patterns (National Law Journal)
- CIA Applicant’s Arrest Tops Wave of China Spy Cases (Spy Talk)
- FBI Did Mock Up of Times Square Bomb (CBS)
