Blagojevich trial May 23, 2011, Blagojevich defense begins, Prominent witnesses to be called, What about Tony Rezko

“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“Why were Stuart Levine and Tony Rezko not called as witnesses in the Blagojevich trials? FBI agent Daniel Cain testified in the Rezko trial. Why was agent Cain not questioned more in the Blagojevich trial?…Citizen Wells

The prosecution rested it’s so called case against Rod Blagojevich last Thursday. Only a snippet of the corruption that Blagojevich was involved in at least by 2003 has been presented. And of course, the plan to avoid presenting any evidence that links Obama to this corruption has been skillfully executed in the best Orwellian tradition. This includes not calling the unsentenced Tony Rezko to the witness stand.

From SaukValley.com May 23, 2011.

“Television reruns rarely attract the same audience and attention as they did the first time around.

The retrial of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich seems to be playing out the same way.

Last summer, the 6-week trial kept Illinoisans’ attention as revelation after unsavory revelation about their former governor came forth from the federal courtroom in Chicago.”

“This time around, there is little new information coming out of the courtroom, so coverage – and public interest – is less than before.

The media frenzy is less. The last time the Associated Press moved a fresh Blagojevich photo taken at the trial scene was 3 weeks ago.

Federal prosecutors greatly simplified their case, reducing the corruption counts to 20, reducing their witnesses to 15, and presenting their case in a nifty 3 weeks – half the time of last year’s trial.

Blagojevich’s legal team did not present a defense at the first trial, but they say they plan to do so this time. The defense is scheduled to begin its case Wednesday.

What will that defense be?

Blagojevich’s lawyers must deal with the federal government’s five main charges:

n That Blagojevich tried to sell an appointment to a U.S. Senate seat, once held by President Barack Obama; and

n That Blagojevich sought campaign contributions in exchange for four public acts: providing a state grant to a school, sending more state money to a hospital, supporting a boost in tollway construction, and signing a bill beneficial to the horse racing industry.

The defense team has active subpoenas for “people of some prominence and activities,” according to Blagojevich lawyer Sheldon Sorosky. They include Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, D-Chicago.

However, the big question is, Will Blagojevich take the stand in his own defense?”

Read more:

http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2011/05/20/r_5qx492dtrmcaqmpds9mlkw/index.xml