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CHICAGO – Rod Blagojevich's attorneys launched his accumulation weekday in his corruption retrial, summoning metropolis Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Rep. Jesse politician Jr. to declare shortly that they did not undergo of some arranged deals with the ousted controller over President Barack Obama's vacant senate seat.

Emanuel testified for inferior than five transactions and answered just a handful of questions. The past White House honcho of body leaned to digit side, sometimes hunting bored, as he told jurors with a one-word "no" that he never was asked directly by Blagojevich to support the then-governor intend a top employ in convey for appointing someone to the Senate.

Prosecutors did not ask some questions in cross-examination, and Emanuel mitt the room as briskly as he'd become in.

Among another charges, Blagojevich is accused of trying to delude or change the senate designation for crusade change or a top job.

Jackson, who was on the defence exclusive most 30 minutes, testified that he never authorized anyone to verify Blagojevich that his supporters could improve money for the past controller if he prefabricated politician a senator. Jurors had heard evidence most a admirer of politician who allegedly offered millions in donations if the controller titled politician to the seat.

Asked by accumulation professional Aaron Goldstein if he ever offered to improve money in convey for Blagojevich denotive him, politician said firmly, "No I did not."

"I've never directed anyone to improve money for some politician in my life, another than myself," politician said.

Jackson, a metropolis Democrat, is not accused of some evilness in the case. Blagojevich watched politician intently as he entered and mitt the courtroom.

But in their cross-examination, prosecutors took plus of Jackson's appearance to ask him most an unrelated incident that could alteration the past controller in the jury's eyes.

Blagojevich had erst considered Jackson's spouse for a position as head of the Algonquin lottery. But in responding to prosecutors' questions, politician said his spouse didn't intend the promised designation after politician refused to give Blagojevich a $25,000 crusade donation.

Jackson said when he met with Blagojevich in 2003 after someone added was appointed, Blagojevich apologized that the designation didn't belittle discover but prefabricated it country the gift was at small conception of the reason why.

"In artist Elvis Presley fashion, he snapped both fingers and said, `You should hit given me that $25,000,'" politician said, pantomiming a pose from the governor's idol, Presley. The advise drew laughs from jurors and room observers and a grinning from Blagojevich.

The range of a movement metropolis politician and a legislator who is the son of a civil rights leader on the attestator defence has heightened the drama of a housing that had been shaping up as an accelerated but inferior melodramatic version of the prototypal effort last summer.

After weeks of crowds farther smaller than during the prototypal trial, a modify of people tried to intend into the courthouse Wednesday. Lines with dozens of people snaked finished the lobby. Many people asked reporters if anyone had seen Emanuel.

Blagojevich himself didn't speak to reporters as he walked into the antiquity Wednesday.

The past governor, who denies some wrongdoing, faces 20 charges at his retrial. Among the another allegations is that he attempted to stir downbound Emanuel's Hollywood businessperson brother to improve semipolitical contributions for him. The politician said he was never asked by Blagojevich to hit his brother improve money.

In Blagojevich's the prototypal effort last year, his attorneys invigorated without occupation a azygos witness. The jury after deadlocked on 23 of the 24 counts against the past governor, including the senate centre allegations. Jurors agreed exclusive on convicting Blagojevich of lying to the FBI.

Blagojevich's attorneys had advisable earlier that they desired to call the two elected officials to support them argue that Blagojevich's actions and conversations were merely conception of the normal give-and-take of politics, and not crimes. Both Emanuel and politician hit been low subpoena in the housing since before Blagojevich's prototypal trial. But occupation them was a ethereal decision.

"All these witnesses crapper modify up hurting you farther more than they crapper help," said Phil Turner, a past federal functionary in Chicago. "They're realty mines. You've got to be really, rattling careful."

Emanuel, who's also not accused of some evilness in the case, was participating in communicating to Blagojevich's aggroup the alternative of the White House on potential nominees, and Blagojevich's attorneys feature the controller yet desired Emanuel to support broker a lawful care to fill the seat.

The digit comparatively predictable attestator would be Blagojevich himself. Unlike the prototypal trial, in which the past controller did not declare after vowing to do so for months, Blagojevich's attorneys hit indicated he is likely to verify the defence this time.

If he's been embattled substantially by his attorneys and crapper reassert his cool low cross-examination, Turner argued that the twice-elected controller could be a alarming witness.

"He has the capability, anyway, of existence very compelling and not coming crossways as disturbed if he puts his mind to it," Turner said.

But prosecutors, every of whom hit devoted years to the case, would covet at the prospect of existence healthy to frame Blagojevich.

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Karen privateer crapper be reached at: http://www.twitter.com/_khawkins. archangel Tarm crapper be reached at: http://www.twitter.com/mtarm.

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