Blago, Top Aides Indicted; 'I'm Innocent,' He Says

After dispute over closing argument, Sam Adam Jr. departs

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich's lawyer left a federal courthouse in Chicago today without delivering his closing argument after the judge threatened to cite him for contempt of court, the Tribune reports . Sam Adam Jr. wanted to tell jurors about witnesses the government didn't call and planned to contend that their testimony would have bolstered the former Illinois governor's case. "You cannot argue against the law," the judge, James Zagel, told him. "It doesn’t do your client any good to have his lawyer held in contempt." More»

Ex-gov bashes his trial, his successor; jokes about hair and lack of progress on book

(NEWSER) - Morning drive-time radio could be the future for Rod Blagojevich, if the impeached Illinois’ governor’s fill-in stint today on Chicago’s WLS-AM is anything to go by, Jimmy Orr writes in live-blogging the show for the Christian Science Monitor. Amid Elvis theme music and complaints about his successor’s proposed tax hike, the “natural radio host” responded to jokes about his hair and the book he’s writing. More»

Back then, he was 'honing his craft:' Powell

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich’s media blitz during his impeachment trial puzzled many, but not his best college bud. “Rod wanted to be Barack, and has been driven to distraction by the press’s fawning over him,” Bill Powell tells Men’s Journal. He recalls college-age Blago, a youthful prankster who—even then—had a passion for his hair, and for outfoxing others. More»

Ex-gov finds lighter side as he exits

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich—now the former governor of Illinois—spent his last day in office in characteristic fashion: a stew of gallows humor, bitter recrimination, and concern about how he looked (literally and figuratively). A New York Times reporter flew with him from Chicago to Springfield and back, as he lurched from one emotion to the next. "I wonder if we’ll have to hitchhike home," he wondered before his plane landed; "maybe we could take the bus." (He didn't.) More»

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich remained unapologetic after the Illinois Senate added him to the ranks of the unemployed today, MSNBC reports. "I'm obviously saddened and disappointed by what's happened, but not surprised," said the impeached governor. "It's a very dangerous precedent to set because a whole bunch of politicians have their own agenda." He vowed to clear his name. "I love the people of Illinois today more than I ever have before," he said. More»