Actually, this is a false deployment of Slublog's Flaming Blago-Skull. I am just posting it because I haven't had an excuse to in forever.

I really don't have an excuse now, either, because this is pretty much a non-story.

But damn it's funny.

So...

Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has asked a federal judge subpoena the president to testify at his corruption trial.

In a motion filed Thursday with U.S. District Judge James Zagel, Blagojevich attorney Sam Adam says President Barack Obama has direct knowledge of allegations made in the indictment.

It would be extremely unusual for a sitting president to testify at a corruption trial.

Let me just say it's unlikely the judge will grant the motion. Supposedly US presidents can be compelled to testify this way, but, after the Clinton debacle, I have a feeling judges are going to come up with reasons to not grant such motions.

Even if the motion is granted, which it probably won't be, I doubt very much that Obama has much interesting to say. Or that he would say, even if he had something interesting to say. It strikes me as very unlikely he would have cared so much about this seat he'd be willing to engage in bribery. Note that that's not me saying I think he's a paragon of incorruptible virtue. Far from it. It's just that even serial liars are capable of making rational decisions about "What does this get me, and what could I lose?"

I mean, I'm sure he'd break the law for something he cared about. Like healthcare. Or raising taxes. But getting his top pick for a Senate seat which would almost surely stay liberal Democrat no matter what he did? Surely he wasn't that invested in his particular successor to play footsie with bribery.

I am sure there are a lot of overly-optimistic conservatives, always really hoping that this or that subpoena pans out, and I guess it's fine to hope like that, but the long history of this sort of thing suggests that nothing will come from it. I just want to caution against that; I remember when I was on that bandwagon myself, in the Clinton years, and was always hoping that this House panel would finally get to the truth.

I wound up politically broken-hearted every six months.

Except for the Lewinsky thing, and that didn't really pay off politically at all. Clinton stayed in office and the Democrats picked up seats.

This is PR move by Blagojevich -- he and his wife are now on realty-tv shows every year, after all -- and some kind of attempt the pressure Democratic-connected prosecutors to avoid a big trial and give him a generous plea offer.

Typical We'll put the system on trial! desperation.

Thanks to Star Chamber Maid.

More Details: Thanks to Intaglio. Here's the Chicago Sun-Times summary, and here's the actual defense filing.

Defense lawyers in the case of Rod Blagojevich moved today to issue a trial subpoena to the President of the United States, asking for his testimony at this June's trial.

They argue in a federal court filing that President Obama would act as a corroborating witness to former governor Blagojevich.

"There are two conflicting stories and the defense has the right to admit evidence that contradicts the government's claims. Only President Obama can do this," defense lawyers wrote.

Last year, Blagojevich's lawyers asked for FBI reports of an interview with President Obama.

The White House has declined comment.

"As of today's date, the defense has not received any notes, transcripts, or reports from President Obama's interview with the government," defense lawyers wrote.

"President Obama has direct knowledge to allegations made in the indictment. In
addition, President Obama's public statements contradict other witness statements, specifically those made by labor union official and Senate Candidate B (Valerie Jarrett). It is anticipated that labor union official will be a witness for the government. His accounts of events directly related to the charges in the indictment are contradicted by President Obama's public statement," defense lawyers wrote.

Doesn't say what contradictory statements they have in mind. Note: Actually, Blago's brief does say what statements they have in mind -- but they're all redacted by the court. The only thing that you can tell from the unredacted parts is that Blagojevich is disputing whether the president had any representatives taking part in these "deals."

They are specifically demanding Obama come to court to sit in the witness box, instead of being allowed to give videotaped testimony in a deposition, which reinforces my belief this is a motion intended to hassle the prosecution.

Oh: Defense also says they haven't received any notes at all from Obama's two-hour interview with the FBI. That won't do -- the defense gets anything material. I can't see how it was material to interview Obama at all and yet the contents of that interview are immaterial to the defense's case.

I imagine Blago's going for some kind of "everyone does it, this is the normally-accepted method of doing things in Chicago" defense, and Obama having a representative at these deal-making meetings would support that.

Except I don't know if something illegal can be made legal just due to common practice. Everyone knows this is how things are done in Chicago -- but that's not a defense to a corruption charge.

Posted by: Ace at 10:15 AM | Comments (89)
Post contains 900 words, total size 6 kb.

55 11. According to Senate Candidate B, on November, 4 2008, Senate Candidate B spoke with labor union official about the Senate seat. Labor union official said he spoke to Obama. Labor union official said he was going to meet with Blagojevich and said “he was going to push Blagojevich hard on this. According to Senate Candidate B, labor union official’s language could have been stronger than the language that she was reporting to the government.” (Senate Candidate B 302, December 19, 200 . 12. On November 5, 2008, Blagojevich told John Harris that labor union official “talked to Barack Obama, wants to come and see me.” Blagojevich then told Harris that labor union official “was very explicit with me, “I talked to Barack about the Senate seat. Can I come and see ya? Can I do it tomorrow?’ I said, sure.” (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 261). 13. A supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama suggested that she talk to the wife of Governor Blagojevich about Senate Candidate B for Senator. (Valerie Jarrett 302, December 19, 200 . Supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama is mentioned in a phone call on November 3, 2008, having offered “fundraising” in exchange for Senate Candidate B for senator (Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 149). 14. President Obama has direct knowledge to allegations made in the indictment. In

Posted by: skree at April 22, 2010 10:50 AM (uYlcx)

56 Here are the redacted parts:

9. Yet, despite President Obama stating that no representatives of his had any part of
any deals, labor union president told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he
spoke to labor union official on November 3, 2008 who received a phone message
from Obama that evening. After labor union official listened to the message
labor union official told labor union president “I’m the one”. Labor union
president took that to mean that labor union official was to be the one to deliver
the message on behalf of Obama that Senate Candidate B was his pick. (Labor
union president 302, February 2, 2009, p. 7).

10.Labor union official told the FBI and the United States Attorneys “Obama expressed
his belief that [Senate Candidate B] would be a good Senator for the people of
Illinois and would be a candidate who could win re-election. [Labor union
official] advised Obama that [labor union official] would reach out to Governor
Blagojevich and advocate for [Senate Candidate B].. . . [Labor union official]
called [labor union president] and told [labor union president] that Obama was
aware that [labor union official] would be reaching out to Blagojevich.” (Labor
union official 302, February 3, 2009 p. 3).

11. According to Senate Candidate B, on November, 4 2008, Senate Candidate B
spoke with labor union official about the Senate seat. Labor union official said
he spoke to Obama. Labor union official said he was going to meet with
Blagojevich and said “he was going to push Blagojevich hard on this. According
to Senate Candidate B, labor union officialÂ’s language could have been stronger
than the language that she was reporting to the government.” (Senate Candidate
B 302, December 19, 200 .

12. On November 5, 2008, Blagojevich told John Harris that labor union official “talked
to Barack Obama, wants to come and see me.” Blagojevich then told Harris that
labor union official “was very explicit with me, “I talked to Barack about the
Senate seat. Can I come and see ya? Can I do it tomorrow?’ I said, sure.”
(Blagojevich Home Phone Call # 261).

13. A supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama suggested that she talk to the wife of
Governor Blagojevich about Senate Candidate B for Senator. (Valerie Jarrett
302, December 19, 200 . Supporter of Presidential Candidate Obama is
mentioned in a phone call on November 3, 2008, having offered “fundraising” in
exchang

17. President-elect Obama also spoke to Governor Blagojevich on December 1, 2008
in Philadelphia. On Harris Cell Phone Call # 139, John Harris and GovernorÂ’s
legal counsel discuss a conversation Blagojevich had with President-elect Obama. The government claims a conspiracy existed from October 22, 2008
continuing through December 9, 2008.6 That conversation is relevant to the defense
of the governmentÂ’s theory of an ongoing conspiracy. Only Rod Blagojevich and
President Obama can testify to the contents of that conversation. The defense

18. President-elect Obama also suggested Senate Candidate A to Governor Blagojevich.
John Harris told the FBI and the United States Attorneys that he spoke to
PresidentÂ’s Chief of Staff on November 12, 2008. Harris took notes of the
conversation and wrote that PresidentÂ’s Chief had previously worked as
Blagojevich's press secretary. Obama agreed of Staff told Harris that Senate
Candidate A was acceptable to Obama as a senate pick. (Harris handwritten
notes, OOG1004463) President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI that “he could not
say where but somewhere it was communicated to him that” Senate Candidate A
was a suggested candidate viewed as one of the four “right” candidates “by the
Obama transition team.” (Rahm Emanuel 302, p. 5, December 20, 200 . Harris
told Blagojevich ObamaÂ’s suggestion on November 12, 2008 (Blagojevich Home
Phone Call # 539).

19. President-elect Obama was also involved in other senate candidate choices. On
December 8, 2008, John HarrisÂ’ secretaryÂ’s call log noted PresidentÂ’s Chief of
Staff called at 10:47 am and wrote “needs to talk to you asap” (Harris 302,
February 20, 2009). PresidentÂ’s Chief of Staff told the FBI that he had a
conversation discussing the Senate seat with Obama on December 7, 2008 in
Obama’s car. President’s Chief of Staff told the FBI “Obama expressed concern
about Senate Candidate D being appointed as Senator. [PresidentÂ’s Chief of
Staff] suggested they might need an expanded list to possibly include names of
African Americans that came out of the business world. [PresidentÂ’s Chief of
Staff] thought he suggested Senate Candidate E who was the head of the Urban League and with PresidentÂ’s Chief of StaffÂ’s suggestion." (PresidentÂ’s Chief of
Staff, 302, 12-20-0 .

Posted by: IreneFingIrene at April 22, 2010 10:50 AM (JKe0g)

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