Blagojevich trial resumes Monday

CHICAGO, June 11 (UPI) -- The federal corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was on break in Chicago Friday while the presiding judge handled other court matters.

The trial resumes Monday.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel, in response to a complaint by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar, warned Blagojevich Thursday to tone down his theatrics, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday. The former governor had been shaking his head in an animated fashion and vigorously taking notes in reaction to testimony by his former aide, Alonzo "Lon" Monk, who said Blagojevich was in on conversations about ways to use the governor's office to make money.

Schar said Blagojevich's movements were "not proper decorum. It's clearly distracting."

The jury heard FBI recordings of Blagojevich telling his brother Robert he needed more money in his campaign war chest, the newspaper said.

"The numbers keep coming down!" the ex-governor could be heard shouting in the tape, made three days before he was arrested. "Just a few days ago we were talking about we could get 4 (million dollars)."

"Get there," he continues. "Don't pay any bills."

Robert Blagojevich is heard responding: "Well, don't send any (expletive) poinsettias and Christmas pictures. Factor that in."

The Sun-Times said prosecutors played the tape to show the governor was desperate for money at the time he was accused of trying to auction off President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.