Blagojevich lawyers seeking permission to play other FBI tapes at corruption trial
By APThursday, July 15, 2010
Blagojevich lawyers seek permission for more tapes
CHICAGO — Lawyers for ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are seeking permission from a judge to play more FBI wiretap tapes that jurors haven’t heard.
The attorneys will make their arguments Thursday, following a three-hour hearing a day earlier.
Blagojevich’s lawyers want to play 38 tapes that they say would show him in a more positive light than the ones prosecutors already played for the jury. They said prosecutors have tentatively agreed to let them play 10. Judge James Zagel gave them permission Wednesday to play two more.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to charges including scheming to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat and plotting to launch a racketeering operation in the governor’s office.
Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday.
