Posted on 07/21/2010 10:05:11 AM PDT by Scythian
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Click to enlarge1 of 1 Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich leaves federal court following opening arguments at his trial June 8, 2010 in Chicago.
The trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is coming to a sudden and unexpected end on Wednesday, as defense attorneys announced that Blagojevich was not taking the stand, despite repeated promises over the past 19 months that he would.
The former governor's defense team then rested it case. Blagojevich will make a statement later today and you can watch that here on cbs2chicago.com.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel asked Blagojevich if it was his decision not to testify.
"Yes, judge," Blagojevich said.
"Have you deliberated in your own mind as to what your decision should be?" Zagel asked.
"Yes, I have," Blagojevich said. "It is my decision, judge. On the advice of my attorneys I made the decision freely and voluntarily."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbs2chicago.com ...
It worked for the New Black Panthers.
The not calling any witnesses sets up the motion for a new trial becuase of “ineffective counsel”. Blago’s entire defense has been nothing but a delaying tactic. My hypothesis is that theyhave plans to kleep this in appeal after appeal (look how much they have delayed the trial already) and get release bond to stay out of jail until they are all resolved. That keeps him on the tv reality show-radio talk show-personal appearance circuit until his kids are out of the house. In other words, he will be allowed to continue to profit from his crimes.
Someone in the Chicago democratic political machine will come up with a very quiet, very lucrative sinecure for him in exchange for his silence on what he knows about Oilbama, Rahmbo and Dickey daley.
I also beleive that the fix is in. I think that the jury will take less than two days to convict him. From there I give it a 50% chance of a directed not guilty verdict, and if that doesn’t happen, a 50% chance of a 6 month sentence. Then the endless appeals will come and he’ll manage to get granted release on every one of them.
You are about to see the world’s first writ of “habeas capillus”—”you have the hair”.
Blago got his newspaper-wrapped fish, I see.
“Money makes the world go around, the world go around...”
WOW, I wonder if his life was threatened, or better yet, he was offered a job in Washington?
I hope tomorrows headline reads:
Blago paid $50 million to not testify and accept settlement
Also on Friday, Page 7:
Gibbs announces $50 million award to Chicago charity
His defense was the prosecution didnt prove their case. This is a legal tactic used when the defense is 100 percent sure thay are gonna win or lose their case. They dont use this ploy if they have any doubts one way or another. I believe they feel they lose for sure if Blago has to face cross examination. Anyway, he is not gonna get a pardon.
So, if a defendant presents a witness and then decides later that he wants to testisfy, he can't???
Not the way they do it on Law n Order :-)
Good point!
Holder's still around, he knows how it's done.
HE was either promised a small island of Cabo St. Lucas, or he has lazer dots on his family members every night.
I really enjoy the transparancey of the Obama fascist Junta.
Seem to remember when Obama recently went to Chicago one of his first acts was meeting with Fitzgerald . . ..
Oh, please. Of course he would pardon him. He will do what’s politically expedient for himself. Blago is a loose cannon.
The deal is in the bag. I doubt he’ll be convicted anyway. The prosecution didn’t deliver.
Some folks think everything is a dirty commie conspiracy. I guess the pardon could be delivered in an umarked black helicopter. Of course, if he is acquitted he wont need a pardon for this offense and I really doubt the Obama crowd fear this chump at all. Some pardons are expedient. This one is not. He would never have been indicted if they feared him. He would have gotten a deal at worst. Blago is just a two bit Chicago ward healer and there are hundreds of them. Time will tell if you are right and I am wrong, but I am amazed at your apparent political naivete.
I just don’t see how this is over, he walks? what about the wiretaps....the tapes? what world do we live in now?
I didn’t say there was a conspiracy.
I don’t think Blago will be convicted, but if he is, he’ll be pardoned because he’s a loose cannon with a lot of dirt on the same Chicago power combine/inner circle zero and Jarrett came from. I didn’t say he’d be pardoned because zero is afraid of him.
You’re the one who hasn’t thought this through.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.