Defense: Blago big talker but not corrupt

CHICAGO, July 27 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lawyer wrapped up his closing arguments Tuesday, saying his client was foolish but not corrupt.

"As much as I like him, and as much as he's loved around the world, this is a man who considered appointing Oprah Winfrey (to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Obama)," Sam Adam Jr. told the U.S. District Court jury, mocking his client as a foolish, ineffective governor. "No one's going to say he's the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's not corrupt."

The Chicago Tribune reported Judge James Zagel indicated he would turn the case over to jurors Wednesday after reading them a list of instructions on how to interpret the law and the charges.

Blagojevich -- who is accused of racketeering, corruption, extortion, lying to federal agents and of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat for personal gain -- was impeached by the Illinois House and removed from office by the state Senate in January 2009.

Adam argued that the governor's aides and advisers should have stopped him if any of his plans or discussions -- hours of which were recorded in federal wiretaps -- were against the law, the Tribune said. He said the testimony of prosecution witnesses had proven Blagojevich's innocence.

Adam, an animated, streetwise orator, spoke to the jury for more than 90 minutes, drawing more than 25 objections from prosecutors and the judge. He ended by asking jurors to ask during deliberations, "What would Sam say?"

The prosecution said in its rebuttal that Blagojevich was a smart man and not an innocent victim.

Prosecutor Reid Schar told the jurors Blagojevich was trained in the law and so was not an "accidentally corrupt governor."

"He seems to have forgotten the first thing you learn in kindergarten," Schar said. "We're all responsible for our own actions … . The time for accountability for these crimes is now."

The Tribune said Blagojevich shook hands with onlookers as he left the courtroom.

"I hope you have an extra prayer for us," he called out to one woman.