Blago Corruption Case Goes To Jury

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

For the second time, Rod Blagojevich’s fate is in the hands of a federal jury.

Jurors are to begin their deliberations in Blagojevich’s retrial Friday morning, after the former governor faced blistering criticism by prosecutors in closing arguments Thursday. The defense’s closing remarks, meanwhile, left both the former governor and his wife in tears.

Defense lawyer Aaron Goldstein tore into the government witnesses, noting that they were given plea deals or immunity and were out to save themselves.

He repeatedly hailed his client’s decision to testify as “courageous” and reminded the panel that Blagojevich had absolutely no obligation to take the witness stand.

Goldstein told jurors to focus on the former governor’s intent as well as what he actually did — not just what he said — in the charged schemes.

Blagojevich did give Children’s Memorial Hospital its funding, tollway executives saw $1.8 billion in state tollway money, the school Rahm Emanuel’s congressional district got its state grant, and he appointed no one to the Senate seat before he was arrested — nor did he take a bribe from emissaries of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. before his arrest, Goldstein said.

“He didn’t get a dime, a nickel, a penny,” Goldstein said, screaming, and pointing across the room at Blagojevich. “He talked and he talked and that is all he did. ... They want you to believe his talk is a crime. It’s not.”