Blagojevich trial verdict possible today, August 12, 2010
A verdict in the Rod Blagojevich trial may come today. A note sent to Judge James Zagel from the jurors indicated they may be deadlocked on some of the counts. John Kass of the Chicago Tribune, who has been openly critical of Blagojevich and Obama for some time, provides some commentary.
“Despite all the theories tossed about after the jury delivered the note Wednesday to U.S. District Judge James Zagel, here’s the thing.
Nobody knows what it means. I don’t. Rod Blagojevich doesn’t. Certainly the lawyers don’t.
“We don’t know what it means,” said Michael Ettinger, lawyer for Rod’s brother and co-defendant Robert Blagojevich. “The judge doesn’t know what it means. I assume they are hung on my client, but I don’t know.”
So nobody knows. And you don’t, either, unless you’re a juror, and if you are, then you better stop reading this right now or Judge Zagel will get medieval on you.
So after getting all high and mighty and criticizing my TV colleagues for speculating, it would be most unfair for me to engage in speculation.
Or would it?
According to my own speculations, here’s what we do know:
In the annals of human history, there have been only two times that the impish grin has been wiped completely from the face of Rod Blagojevich.
First, there was that time when the FBI called him about 6 a.m. to tell him they were coming through his bungalow door to arrest him. And he thought it was his good buddy, then state Sen. Jimmy DeLeo, D-How You Doin?, making a practical joke.
Jimmy? Is that you? Jimmy?
No, it was Rob Grant, the special agent in charge of the Chicago FBI office.
And the second time the grin was wiped off was Wednesday, when he got the call to get down to the courthouse immediately because the jury had something to say.
By the time he arrived, he had been able to force at least half the smile back on his face. Walking past reporters, he wisecracked, “Missed you guys.”
But inside, without a jury to play to, the infuriating grin was gone. Instead, he patted his head a number of times, running his fingers over the back of his prodigious mane. But nervously, not like Mr. Cool.”
“Lawyers were told to return to court at 11 a.m. Thursday. That’s going to fuel even more speculation by us gum flappers who don’t know any more than do you.
Notwithstanding the “deliberated without rancor” line from the Perry Masons on the jury, Zagel had kind words for the panel.
He told the lawyers that the jurors were “exceptionally disciplined” and that he hadn’t once heard them fighting in the jury room.”
Read more:
Applicable to this trial and other things to be commented on soon,
Things are not always as they seem.
Also, He who laughs last, laughs loudest.
Wells
Citizen WElls 
GREAT COVERAGE & GREAT REPORTING MR. WELLS, LIKE USUAL!! GREAT ARTICLE!!
Thank you so very much for Everything!!, Mr. Wells!!
P.S. If a jury is “deadlocked” and votes unanimously to convict on some but not all charges, or “hung” and cannot agree to convict on any charges, what happens next…a retrial…or an appeal? Thank you to anyone who can inform us of only the truth & the facts please.
A FEW MUST READ ARTICLES
1. “RETIRED GENERAL: CONGRESS SHOULD GIVE OBAMA ULTIMATUM”
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=189777
# # # #
2. “EX-CONGRESSMAN: PRESIDENT A “THREAT,” MUST BE IMPEACHED”
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=182929
# # # #
3. “CALLS FOR OBAMA’S RESIGNATION CITES “DECEIT, FRAUD, DISHONESTY”
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=164409<
# # # #
4. "OBAMA & HOLDER: YOU HAVE NO STANDING TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS"
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/24471
# # # #
Blagojevich jurors: We’re stuck
http://tinyurl.com/29bzhr6
I HOPE YOU WILL PLEASE READ ALL OF THE COMMENTS TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE I POSTED ALREADY:
“OBAMA & HOLDER: YOU HAVE NO STANDING TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS”
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/obama-holder-you-have-no-standing-to-ask-any-questions/P36/
There are 7 very short pages of comments that give a sprinkling of FREE USA Beautiful & Legal American Citizen’s comments…..here!!! Well worth reading…………!!!
Philo-Publius At 11:13 am,
Thank you for posting this link!! It cleared up some of my questions. Judge Zagel explained some information and used the word “mistrial” too, which could be what may be what could happen here……
What could happen here is:
1. Mistrial
2. NOT Guilty on ALL Charges
3. Retrial
4. Appeal(s)
Can anyone post more 100% truthful & 100% factual legal information ?
(I am not a lawyer, thank GOD, nor do I desire to become one….at this time in the corrupt USA legal system we are SUFFERING UNDER WHO REFUSES TO MANY, MANY TIMES REPEATEDLY LET TRUTH & RIGHTEOUSNESS, & JUSTICE & WISDOM INTO THE COURTROOMS IN THE USA TODAY!! )
Blago jury has verdict on 2 counts, deadlocked on others
The federal jury in former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s trial has reached a verdict on only two counts in the case and is deadlocked on others, U.S. District Judge James Zagel announced in court today.
The jury still hasn’t deliberated on 11 wire fraud counts, the judge announced in court. Zagel said he would instruct the jury to continue to deliberate on the wire fraud counts.
http://tinyurl.com/22t8js2
“SENATOR SUPPORTS OBAMA BIRTH LAWSUITS”
http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/senator-supports-obama-birth-lawsuits/
Blago jury has verdict on 2 counts, deadlocked on others
The federal jury in former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s trial has reached a verdict on only two counts in the case and is deadlocked on others, U.S. District Judge James Zagel announced in court today.
The jury still hasn’t deliberated on 11 wire fraud counts, the judge announced in court. Zagel said he would instruct the jury to continue to deliberate on the wire fraud counts.
The wire fraud counts largely deal with allegations that the former governor tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. But some also deal with charges that the head of Children’s Memorial Hospital and the owner of a racetrack were improperly pressured to make campaign donations.
Prosecution and defense lawyers took a few minutes to mull over Zagel’s proposed response to jurors and made one minor change. Shortly before noon, Zagel said the jury was at lunch but would receive the agreed upon response when they returned.
It will read: “You should deliberate on wire fraud counts to the extent necessary to enable you to decide on those counts. We recognize that your stated inability to reach agreement on other counts may establish to your satisfaction that you will be similarly unable to reach unanimity on the wire fraud counts. Nonetheless, a deliberative decision on those counts should be made even if it is a decision that you can’t reach agreement.”
There is no way to tell from the jury’s communication which two of the 24 counts faced by Blagojevich they have agreed on. The only thing that is clear is that the two counts on which they’ve agreed do not include the 11 counts in which the governor is charged with wire fraud because the jury said it had not yet voted on those counts.
Robert Blagojevich, the governor’s brother, is charged in only four counts and just one of those involves wire fraud.
After the hearing ended, Blagojevich stood and began rubbing his wife’s shoulders and then gave her a pat on the back of her head.
The 24 counts against the former governor range from racketeering and wire fraud to attempted extortion and bribery. His brother is charged with four counts charging wire fraud, conspiracy and attempted extortion.
On Wednesday, jurors sent a note to the judge indicating they were deadlocked on at least some of the counts.
Jurors said they had “gone beyond reasonable attempts to reach agreement” and couldn’t decide unanimously on all of the counts.
The jury returned today for their 12th day of deliberations as the judge sought more information on how they were deadlocked. The judge also asked attorneys with the case, along with the former governor and his brother, to be at court.
Rod Blagojevich arrived at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse with Patti a little before 11 a.m. He shook hands with onlookers and thanked them for their well wishes. He said nothing to reporters.
Robert Blagojevich showed up a bit earlier.
— Jeff Coen, Bob Secter and Stacy St. Clair
“Obama’s Three Card Monte Trick”
http://www.redstate.com/nick099/2010/08/11/president-obama%e2%80%99s-three-card-monte-trick/
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“What? What? I Thought Sharron Angle Was Impoding” Video Proves Conservative Constitutionalist Sharron Angle Is Strong & Is Beating Dead Harry “Tombstone Graveyard Reid!!”
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/08/12/what-what-i-thought-sharron-angle-was-imploding/
# # # #
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Jul 28, 2010
Veteran Defense Lawyer: Blago Will Win Some Counts
By Carol Felsenthal
After the closing arguments on Tuesday, I called a prominent defense lawyer in town whom I’ve known for decades. He asked not to be identified, but his insights are worth sharing as jurors begin deliberating today in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich. Caveat: His experience, legal acumen, and street smarts are from years of working as a criminal defense attorney.
How was Sam Adam Jr.’s closing arguments compared to that of the prosecutors?
He’s a tremendous orator, incredibly populist. He did what he had to do… and was a lot better than the prosecutors. The prosecutors’ closing arguments were boring. It’s hard to get a jury angry if you don’t appear to be angry. There should have been some passion. You remember how animated [U.S. Attorney Patrick] Fitzgerald was at the press conference [on the day Rod Blagojevich was arrested]. He was indignant; he and the FBI guy in charge were insulted that there could be a governor like that—Lincoln was rolling over in his grave. The two prosecutors [at Blago’s trial] very cerebrally outlined the evidence. They were very low-key, and I don’t think it helped their cause. Adam’s failure was that he didn’t argue the facts very well; he didn’t have the facts. The failure of the prosecution is they argued the facts beautifully, but they lacked the passion that Adam had.
What about the fate of Rod’s brother, Robert Blagojevich?
I think his attorney did a wonderful job. They shouldn’t have indicted him in the first place—it was a bad decision. Poor guy spends his whole life trying to be a good citizen, comes to help his brother for four months. I think a jury would acquit him.
Predict the verdict for Rod.
He’ll win some counts and [get a hung jury] on others. The government’s arguments didn’t impress me. I think he’ll get some acquittals.