CHICAGO (AP) — A federal prosecutor is detailing Rod Blagojevich's alleged schemes as part of closing arguments in the ex-governor's corruption trial.
Prosecutor Chris Niewoehner says jurors heard Blagojevich try to shake down then-president-elect, Barack Obama, for a job in exchange for appointing an Obama friend to his U.S. Senate seat.
He says they heard Blagojevich trying to get a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for signing a racetrack bill and trying to shake down a children's hospital for another contribution.
And, he says, Blagojevich lied to the FBI about the alleged schemes.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty in an alleged scheme to sell Obama's old Senate seat and plotting to illegally pressure people for campaign contributions.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Prosecutor Chris Niewoehner says jurors heard Blagojevich try to shake down then-president-elect, Barack Obama, for a job in exchange for appointing an Obama friend to his U.S. Senate seat.
He says they heard Blagojevich trying to get a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for signing a racetrack bill and trying to shake down a children's hospital for another contribution.
And, he says, Blagojevich lied to the FBI about the alleged schemes.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty in an alleged scheme to sell Obama's old Senate seat and plotting to illegally pressure people for campaign contributions.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
