FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2010
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Politics & The Nation
are clearly emerging in theatrical trial
by Peter Slevin
chicago — To prosecutors, he is “Defendant Blagojevich.” To de- fense counsel, he is simply “Rod.” In the early days of his corrup- tion trial, prosecution witnesses have described former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D) as a greedy and ambitious chief exec- utive who helped his buddies carve up billions in state con- tracts and fill his campaign cof- fers with illegal contributions. When he embarked in 2008 on what one called “a public corrup- tion crime spree,” he was $200,000 in debt. The man called Rod, however, is an amiable guy who thought big thoughts and now diligently take notes on a yellow pad at a de- fense table, frequently shaking his head in disagreement with the testimony. In his attorneys’ por- trayal, he is a well-meaning public servant, perhaps not the sharpest knife in the drawer, duped repeat- edly by Chicago’s political sharks. Blagojevich is famous for steal- ing the spotlight, but these days it’s his for the asking. In a trial that is all about him, a dozen ju- rors will decide whether the North Side striver who wanted to be president was really just an- other sleazy Illinois pol who de- serves to be in prison. It’s all about Rod — or Defen- dant Blagojevich, depending on how you see it. Blagojevich poses for cellphone photos and signs autographs as he leaves court. Barely one week into testimony, U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel has already in- structed him to mute his theatri- cal courtroom gestures. Prosecu- tors sought a gag order after Bla- gojevich stood before television cameras and declared that Lon Monk, his onetime chief of staff and former roommate, lied to the jury. “As my old friend was testifying
and saying things that he knew weren’t true, I couldn’t help but think about times that we spent together,” Blagojevich said this week. “I couldn’t help but think about . . . the shame that his fa- ther probably feels.” The expansive federal effort
that could make Blagojevich the second consecutive Illinois gover- nor to land behind bars — George Ryan (R) remains in prison for corruption — began more than six years ago. Many of his closest friends and colleagues have pleaded guilty or been convicted. One recently killed himself. Now the focus turns to Blago-
jevich and his brother Robert, who briefly headed the former governor’s campaign committee. Playing out before a packed gal- lery — tickets are issued first come, first served at 7:30 a.m. — the trial is expected to last three months or longer, but the compet- ing strategies are emerging clear- ly.
The government aims to use a relentless accumulation of testi- mony and secretly taped conver- sations to prove that Rod Blago- jevich fretted about money and decided even before he took office in 2003 to skim cash from state business. Two witnesses have said so.
As he won his first term, then
his second, Blagojevich also alleg- edly directed associates to strong- arm business executives for cam- paign cash — $25,000 for a seat on certain state boards, $500,000 from a road builders’ organiza- tion, $50,000 from the head of a children’s hospital in return for releasing $8 million in Medicaid money the state owed. Monk said businessman and Democratic fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, convicted in 2008 of influence-peddling in the Bla- gojevich administration, led the early schemes and paid Monk il- licitly. The plan, he said, was not to distribute Blagojevich’s share “until he got out of office.” Rezko, a former friend of and
fundraiser for President Obama, is also accused by prosecutors of paying Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, $150,000 for little or no work. That was after Blagojevich’s circle allegedly decided that putting her on the governor’s campaign pay- roll would attract too much atten- tion.
Blagojevich’s governing philos-
ophy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Car- rie Hamilton told jurors, was “What about me?” Patti Blagojevich is named as a
conspirator in the case, but has not been charged. After taking a reality show role to make money before the trial, she sits each day in the front row of the courtroom gallery, talking on her cellphone during breaks. Blagojevich’s attorneys, how-
ever, are mounting a challenge that could be called the indigna- tion defense. Supported by the si-
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lent scoffs and the mocking smiles of the defendant, lawyers Sam Adam Jr. and Sheldon So- rosky suggest that their client was manipulated, the case is a setup and the evidence is a sham. “He’s broke,” Adam told jurors.
“You know why he’s broke? It’s not hard. He didn’t take a dime.” Rezko, convicted of 16 felony
charges in 2008, was one of the bad guys close to Blagojevich, Ad- am said. Noting that Blagojevich
aimed to become president, he mocked Monk’s assertion that Rezko would hold the governor’s share of the illegal proceeds until after he left office. “Are you telling the ladies and
glum, often restricting himself to one-word answers. “You’re making it up so you can
gentlemen of the jury,” Adam said, “that he’s going to wait on his money until he’s left the White House?” Monk pleaded guilty and is seeking leniency in return for his cooperation. He was steadfastly
get your two years and putting it on his back, aren’t you, Mr. Monk?” Adam said. “No,” Monk answered, bracing for the next challenge. Monk also figured in the at- tempt by prosecutors to blunt Blagojevich’s claim that he was ig- norant of his friends’ ways. Assis- tant U.S. Attorney Christopher
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Niewoehner asked Monk about efforts to require prospective members of state boards to make $25,000 donations to the Friends of Blagojevich committee. “Do you need a lot of knowl-
edge of the Chicago political are- na,” Niewoehner asked, “to know that you’re not allowed to trade board and commission spots for $25,000 contributions?” “No,” Monk said.
slevinp@washpost.com
A5
Prosecution, defense paint very different pictures of Blagojevich Competing strategies
Check out the latest on the Blagojevich case plus all the other political news of the day from The Fix, Federal Eye, 44 and the other usual suspects in The Post’s reporting lineup.
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