Blagojevich defense team subpoenas Durbin

CHICAGO, April 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., says defense attorneys have subpoenaed him to testify at the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

WBBM-AM, Chicago, reported Durbin told reporters he had spoken to Blagojevich once about the Senate seat left vacant with Barack Obama's election as president. Durbin, the Senate majority whip, said the call lasted 10 to 15 minutes and he suggested 10 to 20 people to consider for the vacancy.

Blagojevich has repeatedly denied corruption allegations, including trying to sell the Obama's former U.S. Senate.

WBEZ-FM, Chicago, reported Friday Blagojevich had subpoenaed Obama to testify in his corruption trial.

ABC News reported a computer glitch has made public redacted documents in which Blagojevich says Obama was actively involved in picking his Senate successor. The U.S. network says Blagojevich does not accuse Obama of criminal wrongdoing, but says the president can clarify conflicting stories.

ABC said the redacted information was found when the information was cut and pasted off a court Web site. In one conversation with a labor union official, whose name was not reported, several witnesses are reported to have said Obama expressed hope Blagojevich would choose "Senate Candidate B," widely believed to be White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, ABC reported.

The document quoted the union official as telling FBI agents and prosecutors Obama said Senate Candidate B "would be a good senator for the people of Illinois and would be a candidate who could win re-election."