I'll Use Prosecution Tapes to Win My Case, Says Impeached Ex-Ill. Gov
After pleading innocent today to charges made in a revised indictment in a federal corruption case, the impeached former governor of Illinois and his lawyers said he could seek to suppress government tapes of allegedly incriminating phone conversations on constitutional grounds but doesn’t intend to do so.
That’s because playing the tapes—all of the tapes—at trial later this year would actually win the case for Rod Blagojevich, they contend. “We don’t have to prove Rod innocent, but the tapes will,” attorney Sam Adam Jr. told the Chicago Tribune after the Chicago hearing.”That’s the point here.”
Blagojevich also said he intends to testify in his own defense at the trial, reports the Wall Street Journal.
“I challenge the government,” said Blagojevich, who faces racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion charges and is accused, among other alleged misconduct, of having attempted to barter for his own personal benefit the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the election of Barack Obama as president. “If you’re on the side of truth and justice like you say you are and if this was a crime spree like you claim it was, then don’t hide behind technicalities. Play all the tapes.”
Additional coverage:
Greg Hinz (Crain’s Chicago Business): “Blagojevich’s odd federal court gambit”
Updated at 3:30 p.m. to link to Crain’s blog post.
