Blagojevich sounds defiant as jury selection inches forward during Day 2 of corruption trial

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Jury selection inches forward at Blagojevich trial

CHICAGO — Rod Blagojevich sounded defiant Friday, accusing the federal government of making false allegations against him and his family as jury selection inched forward during the second day of the ousted Illinois governor’s corruption trial.

Though the ex-governor, who is accused of trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, appeared upbeat and waved to passerbys, the mood at the downtown Chicago courthouse was much calmer compared to the media circus at the trial’s opening day.

Only about a dozen journalists awaited his arrival — down from the 60 or so who clamored to see him on Thursday. There also were no supporters or well-wishers near the courthouse, unlike the handful who stood outside and hugged him the day before.

Before heading up to the courtroom, Blagojevich approached a gaggle of reporters, with his wife, Patti, at his side.

“We’ve been lied about and falsely accused,” the Democrat said. “I know I’ll be vindicated.”

Inside the courtroom, jury selection continued as attorneys began raising objections about some potential jurors. U.S. District James B. Zagel granted several challenges by midday — though no jurors were seated.

He allowed one request by prosecutors to dismiss a woman who told the judge several times under questioning Thursday that she would resort to prayer to arrive at a decision on guilt or innocence. But Zagel rejected a request by defense attorneys to let go of one potential juror after he told the court on Thursday that he believed Blagojevich was guilty.

Zagel planned to keep interviewing potential jurors at a rate of no more than 34 a day until the attorneys can settle on a final panel. He says that will happen in a few days.

Blagojevich was in his second term as governor when he was arrested 18 months ago at his home on the North Side of Chicago. Charged alongside Blagojevich is his brother, Nashville, Tenn., businessman Robert Blagojevich, who was chairman of his campaign fund and is accused of not only scheming to sell the Senate seat that Obama vacated when he went to the White House but plotting to pressure a racetrack owner for a donation.

Republicans have been relishing the potential embarrassment of three to four months of tawdry testimony concerning alleged extortion and bribery schemes under the Democratic governor. The Illinois Republican Party launched theblagofiles.com to keep track of the testimony.

“It’s a sad story that unfortunately must be told so we can fix our state,” the Republicans said in a statement.

The trial threatens to be a major embarrassment for Democrats, playing out for months before November elections. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn — Blagojevich’s former lieutenant governor — is trying to hang onto the state’s top office and Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias is campaigning for the same Senate seat that is the focus of the corruption trial.

Major political names such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., have been subpoenaed. And lawyers close to the case and White House officials have said White House advisers Rahm Emanuel and Valerie Jarrett have been subpoenaed as well. Neither of the two senators nor the two White House advisers has been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.