Prosecution rests in Blagojevich case

CHICAGO, May 19 (UPI) -- Prosecutors rested their case Thursday against ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell President Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

The trial is Blagojevich's second. The first ended in mistrial in August, except for one count of lying to the FBI. In this go-around, federal prosecutors sharply curtailed their presentation, presenting about three weeks of testimony.

Defense attorney Sheldon Sarosky told U.S. District Judge James Zagel the defense will begin calling witnesses next week and its case likely would last three or four days. In the first trial, the defense rested without calling any witnesses. It was still unclear whether Blagojevich would testify, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Blagojevich is accused of a variety of corruption charges, including trying to wrangle campaign cash in exchange for appointing someone to fill Obama's U.S. Senate seat after he was elected president in 2008.

The final prosecution witness was Daniel Cain, an FBI agent who identified a number of pictures, including one of newly installed Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who allegedly was shaken down by Blagojevich for a campaign fundraiser by Emanuel's brother, Ari. At the time, Emanuel was a North Side congressman.

Earlier, Bradley Tusk, who served as deputy governor, testified Blagojevich held up a grant to a school in Emanuel's congressional district to pressure Emanuel for that fundraiser.