Posted on 08/16/2010 11:55:49 AM PDT by STARWISE
Rumors of a mistrial, hung jury or partial verdict ran rampant this morning.
Then jurors in Rod Blagojevich's case threw us a curve ball.
They've asked for a complete transcript of testimony of a governor's onetime aide.
Bradley Tusk's June 21st testimony was relatively brief and came on a busy trial day. Tusk, a onetime aide to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, testified about an alleged shakedown scheme contained in the government's indictment.
Tusk said while he was deputy governor of Illinois Blagojevich told him he wanted a message delivered to then-U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel: A $2 million grant for the Chicago Academy, a school in Emanuel's district, was on hold unless his brother, Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, held a fund-raiser.
Ari is the inspiration for the "Entourage" character, Ari Gold.
Tusk said he didn't deliver the message but called Blagojevich's lawyer to tell him: "You need to get your client under control."
Tusk's time on the stand came on a big day for the trial. Racetrack owner John Johnston testified in the morning for the prosecution and the day former chief of staff John Harris also took the stand.
Here's some of our postings on Tusk's testimony:
No verdict yet; Jury asks for deputy governor's testimony
By Sarah Ostman on August 16, 2010 11:17 AM | Reporting with Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney
###
As Judge James Zagel described it, the jury's question was "less than earth-shattering."
The jurors asked for the transcript of deputy governor Bradley Tusk's testimony in its entirety. Zagel has agreed to provide it.
Tusk's testimony centered on a charge involving the alleged attempted extortion of Rahm Emanuel, then a congressman.
That charge is count 14 -- and not directly among the 11 wire fraud counts that the panel presumably was going back and deliberating after revealing Thursday they hadn't come to a conclusion on those counts.
However, the Emanuel scheme is included in three other, broader counts, including count one: racketeering; count two: racketeering conspiracy and count three: wire fraud scheme. Count three is a long, cumbersome charge that includes an overview of all the major schemes in the case but it is charged as a wire fraud.
In his testimony, Bradley Tusk, a onetime aide to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said that while he was deputy governor of Illinois, Blagojevich told him he wanted a message delivered to then-U.S. Rep. Emanuel:
A $2 million grant for the Chicago Academy, a school in Emanuel's district, was on hold unless his brother, Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, held a fund-raiser.
Ari is the inspiration for the "Entourage" character, Ari Gold.
Tusk said he didn't deliver the message but called Blagojevich's lawyer, Bill Quinlan, and told him: "You need to get your client under control."
Neither Rahm Emanuel nor his brother held a fund-raiser for Blagojevich. And the school did get eventually get the money, but the funds were released slowly, according to testimony.
Today's communication from jurors comes after a three-day weekend for the panel, which signaled on Thursday it was at a stalemate over much of the case after 12 days of talks.
Jurors last week said they had agreed on just two of the 24 counts. They had not even deliberated on 11 wire fraud counts.
Zagel asked them to go back and discuss those charges even if they conclude they could not agree.
The jury is now on a lunch break. Zagel is giving the defense 30 minutes to come up with case law to dispute any issues.
Defense lawyer Aaron Goldstein had asked that jurors be told they should rely on their best recollection of the testimony even after they were given the transcript. Zagel said if Goldstein could give him case law on that, he'd consider it.
_________________________________________________
Blagojevich trial: Attorneys called in for jury question By Sarah Ostman on August 16, 2010 11:03 AM
Reporting with Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney
###
After a quiet couple of hours this Monday morning, there is another question from the jury.
Judge James Zagel has called attorneys into court to discuss. They're on the Dirksen Building's 25th floor now, waiting for the hearing to begin. More soon.
Jurors signaled last Thursday that they were having trouble reaching an agreement on most of the counts before them.
There was some expectation that we'd hear from jurors this morning given their notes last week. Parties in the case were gathered outside the courtroom this morning even before knowing about a question.
Today is day 13 of the jury's deliberations.
** The beat goes on ...
I fervently wish that Rod Blagojevich would just slither off the media stage. And soon.
“Under oath” means nothing to any of these people.
“Rehearsals” and jury selection are everything.
It’s the Chicago Way.
Not I ... he was spawned in the same filthy
Chicago Swamp as those in power in DC who are
directly linked to him and are seriously intent
on turning this precious country into an embedded,
corrupt, socialist/vote buying heretical disaster
like IL.
Let him squeak forever .. until we see the whole
rotting underbelly of them all exposed and
exterminated.
You are so right, Word .. bond = meaningless
to THEM ALL. It’s all about them.
Here’s a gem that’s right on target for today
from dear Pres. Ronald Reagan:
“In a new political WebAd, President Ronald Reagan’s words from years ago seem to for-tell the attitude and actions of today’s ruling elite in Washington.”
http://www.breitbart.tv/reagan-the-prophet/
Powerful. I pray to God that He will save us from the evil that’s upon us. He gave us RWR. He will come through again.
I fervently wish that Rod Blagojevich begins to sing like a canary.
If Rahm or Obiewan (peace be upon him) have the slighest clue, they have already offered to take care of him (one way or the other).
In the 80s when over 100 were arrested, they went for the
middle management people who were just tools. Those positions were immediately filled....This time they need to cut the serpents head off.
He gave us RWR. He will come through again.
~~~~~~~~
Amen!
I hope Blago is found innocent. That would be the worst thing to happen to The Rookie and the corrupt Chicago political machine, because Blago knows where all the bodies are buried.
If he's found innocent, you know he will be singing like a canary.
Yep .. and they ALL know where all the bodies
are or where to be buried, God forbid.
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