Getting into the meat of his argument in the Rod Blagojevich corruption case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Niewohner takes the jury through the former governor’s efforts to leverage his opportunity to appoint Barack Obama’s Senate replacement to procure cash.
“It was a trade, it was an exchange, it was a sale,” Niewohner said.
Blagojevich is watching quietly, playing with his fingers. Unlike most days, there is no pen or paper near him.
The government is using a video screen to summarize its points – a bit like how David Letterman does his “Top Ten” lists.
The first screen is titled, “Scheming over the Senate seat.” Then: “Scheming to trade Senate seat for HHS.” Another: “Scheming to get his own 501(c)(4) foundation.”
Niewoehner reminds the jury of how Blagojevich deputized his former aide Bob Greenlee, and former chief of staff, John Harris, to research about possible job opportunities the ex-governor could land in exchange for the Senate seat.
“All those steps translate into the crime,” says the prosecutor.