CHICAGO — A lawyer for Rod Blagojevich said yesterday the defense plans to call White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel as a witness in the ousted Illinois governor’s corruption trial.
Attorney Sam Adam Jr. also said the defense currently has no intention of calling White House adviser Valerie Jarrett.
Jarrett is a longtime friend of President Obama. Prosecution witnesses said Blagojevich had considered appointing her to the US Senate seat Obama was giving up to move to the White House if Obama would give him a Cabinet post. Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to scheming to trade or sell the seat.
A lobbyist testified earlier that Emanuel urged him to make sure Blagojevich knew Obama wanted Jarrett to get the Senate seat.
Yesterday, Blagojevich’s brother, Robert, a co-defendant who also is charged with trying to sell the Senate seat, took the stand. He testified that he never tied political contributions to government business while he served as chairman of the ousted governor’s campaign fund and portrayed himself as frequently outside the loop during discussions.
“I was told never to tie the two, and I never did,” he said, adding that he understood from the day he became head of the campaign fund in August 2008 that he was never to condition state actions on donations.
In addition to the charge of trying to sell the Senate seat, Rod Blagojevich, 53, has pleaded not guilty to plotting to launch a racketeering operation in the governor’s office.
Robert Blagojevich, 54, also has been hit with a wire-fraud charge that he was involved in pressuring two businessmen illegally for campaign funds.
Rod Blagojevich’s attorneys had cross-examined only a few witnesses while the prosecution presented its case.
The biggest fireworks are expected later in the week — if the impeached governor does take the stand.
Rod Blagojevich was smiling as he arrived at court yesterday. At one point as he passed spectators and reporters, he asked for a show of hands from “anyone here planning on testifying.” He then thrust his own hand high in the air, smiled and walked into court.