Rod Blagojevich won’t testify at his trial
July 22nd, 2010 - 7:33 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt
Chicago, July 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Rod Blagojevich’s defense lawyers brought their argument to a close in the former governor’s corruption trial without calling even a single witness including cross examining their own client.
Analysts believe that might be very risky for the former governor and it is believed the move will force the prosecution to change their strategy in approaching the case. Though the move saves Blagojevich from cross-examination that would have disclosed some embarrassing personal details of the former governor of Illinois.
But the juror might not be impressed with that. All through the trial until now, defense attorneys have promised that their client will tell his story about allegations about his spending and gross insubordination. In one of such allegations, Blagojevich is alleged to have spent a whooping $200,000 on suits while he was deep in debt.
Though analysts describes his defense attorneys move as risky, they think if those issues had been discussed in court, it would have been devastating to the former governor.
Blagojevich who is 53 years is facing trial after he was accused of planning to sell President Barack Obama’s former senate seat for other high favors. He is charged with his brother, Robert Blagojevich who is 54 years old.
He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against him.
Announcing his decision not to testify during his trial, Blagojevich told the trial judge, Judge James B. Zagel that it was his decision not to testify.
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Tags: allegations, barack obama, brother robert, corruption trial, cross examination, defense attorneys, defense lawyers, governor blagojevich, governor of illinois, insubordination, judge james, juror, prosecution, rod blagojevich, senate seat, suits, trial judge, witness