A case against former Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, is progressing further as his defense team plant to attempt to call President Obama to the stand. A Blagojevich/Obama subpoena could mean nothing. It may also spell disaster for either the indicted ex-politician or the president. The kind of legal team necessary for this case would send anyone running for a no fax cash advance at least. It isn’t the first time a president has been given a subpoena to testify, but if he is served, t here is lot he can do to avoid the witness chair.
The Blagojevich Obama ties exist
There are allegations of Blagojevich/Obama ties that began since the former governor was arrested and thrown out of office. President Obama was once a Senator in the same state where Rod Blagojevich was governor. The judge presiding over Blagojevich’s trial, District Judge James Zagel, for trying to sell a Senate seat has been requested to subpoena the President, as the defense claims President Obama has knowledge relating to the alleged events. So far, there doesn’t seem to be any suggestion of impropriety on the part of the President, though it seems he did offer notes on proposed replacements in the Senate.
Motion leaked accidentally
The motion filed with the court by the defense was leaked onto the internet. Some of it was blacked out when it was posted. It was learned quickly that the blacked out parts showed up when copies and pasted out of the online court document. A link is available on Fox News . It is still unknown whether or not President Obama really has pertinent information or if Blagojevich needs to get small loans for more smoke and mirrors.
Judge advises less showboating: Senator Durbin subpoenaed
Apparently Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has been subpoenaed as well. Durbin has maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing. The only time he spoke with Blagojevich was when he was talking about the replacement for the vacant seat. Meanwhile, according to the Chicago Tribune , Judge James B. Zagel advised Blagojevich that he would not subject a jury to all 500 hours of FBI tapes of his conversations. He also admonished him to knock off all the showboating.
And if he does subpoena the President?
If the Blagojevich/Obama subpoena were going through, many things might happen. The president is, after all, the president. Some of the good excuses are national security matters and scheduling. Meanwhile, if he is convicted, Rod Blagojevich could face up to 20 years.
Sources
Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/23/uncovered-portions-blacked-subpoena-suggest-obama-advised-blagojevich-senate/
Chicago Tribune
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-04-22/news/ct-met-obama-blagojevich-subpoena-0423-20100422_1_obama-and-blagojevich-blagojevich-attorneys-antoin-tony-rezko
