By: MICHAEL TARM Illinois State Wire (5/24/2011)
CHICAGO (AP) – A source familiar with plans for Rod Blagojevich’s defense says Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. will be called to testify Wednesday when attorneys begin mounting a defense in the former governor’s retrial on corruption charges. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about who would be called.
Blagojevich faces 20 charges, including that he sought to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat for a top job or campaign cash.Blagojevich’s attorneys suggest they would call Emanuel and Jackson to help them argue that Blagojevich’s actions and conversations were merely part of the normal give-and-take of politics.
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