Blago Retrial: Daily Journal 5/9

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2:58 p.m.: John Harris' testimony is done. Defense attorneys were 'objected to' more than 160 times, leading Zagel to make several comments to Aaron Goldstein. Government didn't bother to redirect. SEIU president Tom Balanoff is now on the stand.

12:41 p.m.: The jury sits in amazement or possibly amusement as defense attorneys are 'objected to' more than 100 times during the first cross-examination.

11:10 a.m.:
Under tedious cross-examination by the defense, John Harris did his best to say as little as humanly possible. Attorney Aaron Goldstein covered a lot of ground, from grants to a Chicago charter school to Patti Blagojevich's job search. All the while Goldstein suggested that while the former governor may have talked about doing things that seemed illegal, he never really followed through.

Prosecutors are being very careful to keep the defense team from bringing in information that has been excluded from the case. Judge James Zagel has sustained more than 40 prosecution objections.

10:08 a.m.:
 Cross-examination of John Harris begins with the defense accusing him of lying to FBI. Harris agrees.

What to Expect Today:

The defense takes their first shot at prosecutors Monday in the government’s new, improved, slimmed down case against former governor Rod Blagojevich. Still on the stand, facing his first day of cross-examination, is former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris. [Read a full report from NBC Chicago's Phil Rogers ... ]

Previous Journals:

Thursday, May 5, 2011 -- Blago Considered Appointing Himself Senator

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 -- Harris Testimony Continues

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 -- Testimony Begins

Monday, May 2, 2011 -- Opening Statements Due Today

Thursday, April 28, 2011 -- Questioning Continues

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
-- 6 Jurors Left to Question?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 -- Opening Statements Likely Monday

Monday, April 25, 2011
-- Jury Selection Resumes

Thursday, April 21, 2011 -- Jurors Questioned

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 -- Welcome to the Retrial

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