From the Chicago Tribune, December 17, 2009.

“State of corruption: Blagojevich lawyer hoping to get Obama to testify at trial”

“Lawyers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday sought early access to an interview of President Barack Obama by federal investigators as the defense weighs whether to try to call Obama as a witness in Blagojevich’s trial next year.

Blagojevich’s lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., said he realizes it would be an uphill battle to get a sitting president to testify.

Obama was questioned by investigators after Blagojevich was arrested last December on charges he tried to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama after being elected president.

The defense is also seeking reports of interviews of Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s chief of staff, as well as other staffers about any conversations they might have had with Blagojevich or his aides about the Senate seat.”

“U.S. District Judge James Zagel gave prosecutors until Jan. 8 to respond in writing to the defense request. The defense is also seeking all witness statements in the case earlier than the rules of evidence call for so it can be prepared for the June 3 trial.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-blago-obama-trialdec17,0,2299601.story