CHICAGO (AP) — Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has finished testifying at his corruption retrial.
Blagojevich concluded Tuesday after seven days on
the stand.
He told jurors he never tried to shake down
executives for contributions. And he said he never sought to sell or trade
President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.
Blagojevich insisted his talk captured on FBI
wiretaps was merely brainstorming. He said he never took seriously the schemes
broached on recordings or made decisions to carry them out.
Blagojevich also claimed he'd believed his
conversations were legal and part of common political discourse. He got that in
even though the judge barred such arguments.
At times, he blamed confidants for actions that
appeared illegal.
Under grueling cross-examination, Blagojevich
occasionally became flustered. But he also counterpunched and repeatedly denied
wrongdoing.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
