Blagojevich trial, Obama subpoena, April 22, 2010
*** Update below ***
From WGN Chicago Breaking News Center.
“Blago defense seeks permission to subpoena Obama”
“Lawyers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich today asked a federal judge for permission to subpoena President Barack Obama to testify at Blagojevich’s upcoming trial.
Blagojevich is charged with using his office to enrich himself and close associates, including allegations he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat that Obama vacated in 2008 with his election to the White House.
“President Obama has direct knowledge to allegations made in the indictment,” the defense said in its filing. “In addition, President Obama’s public statements contradict other witness statements.”
The defense said it still has not received notes from FBI interviews of Obama even though it first sought that material in December.
Blagojevich’s lawyers contend that some of Obama’s public remarks that no representatives of his had any stake in any alleged deals Blagojevich had over the senate seat has been contradicted by some witnesses in interviews with the FBI and federal prosecutors. That allegedly contradictory information has been blacked out of the new filing, though the defense asked in a footnote that the entire filing be unsealed.”
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