Blagojevich Defense Team Moves to Subpoena Obama

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News

Defense lawyers for ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich want to see President Obama testify at the former governor's June trial and have moved to subpoena the president, CBS 2 Chicago reports.

Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges that accuse him of scheming to get a lucrative job or cash in exchange for the Senate seat Mr. Obama left open when he assumed the presidency.

Mr. Obama has stated publicly that he was "confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat," a motion to issue the subpoena states. Yet the motion contends that "President Obama's public statements contradict other witness statements." It specifically cites statements from a labor union official whom Blagojevich met with and believed to be in contact with the president.

The labor union official is expected to be a prosecution witness, so Blagojevich's defense team wants Mr. Obama to act as a corroborating witness for the former governor, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The court papers made no allegations of any wrongdoing on Mr. Obama's part, the Associated Press adds.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20003201-503544.html

[Arkana]

1. It's things like this that make me wish

that Obama actually DID have secret brownshirt police or whatever the right wing accuses him of having--he could use them to make Blago disappear.

[Divine Discontent]

3. ...

:eyes:

[Arkana]

4. You realize I'm kidding, right?

Blago's still a douche though.

[Divine Discontent]

5. that he is...

[marshall]

6. How about just waking up tomorrow morning with a horse's head in his bed?

That would do the trick.

[nyy1998]

2. Ugh, I thought we were done with this %&*$

Why he hasn't been committed to an insane asylum is beyond me.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Blago is doing his damndest to poison the jury pool.

:eyes:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. thanks. this seems big to me. hope O is clean on this - that's

all we need - he'd be in Bush territory, big time. I always think if a handful of people are saying one thing and one is saying something else 90% of the time it's the group that's true.

[Rex]

9. Sorry, but Obama should only be ordered to follow the "Bush/Cheney" example.

No oath, and very little time to answer questions to anyone. Sorry.

[humbled_opinion]

10. Yes he is trying to taint the entire proceeding...

Here is the way I am starting to understand this.

1. Blago defense is that Obama can clear him by stating unequivocally that Blago was not trying to sell the seat because according to Blago if he was trying to sell the seat it was only because Obama (or others in his name) were trying to purchase the seat.

2. Redacted information was leadked to the press with the redacted portions readable. Setting up a mistrial..


This is all one huge distraction that Repukes are going to try and give legs.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Blagojevich-Judge-Calls-Emergency-Meeting-91864084.html

[The Second Stone]

11. This requires an "offer of proof"

As to what the offered witness will testify to and why it is relevant to the trial. Obama clearly did not want to buy a Senate seat that he himself vacated so that he could serve as President. Blago must offer credible evidence that Obama or someone else Obama was acting on behalf of tried to buy the Senate seat. If Obama or one of his aides talked to Blago, that would suffice, or if one of the people talking to Blago said they were acting on Obama's behalf, even if only Blago was saying that at this point.

POTUS is not beyond the subpoena power, see U.S. v. Clinton. But there must be credible evidence and relevance.

[Name removed]

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