Jurors in Rod Blagojevich's federal corruption retrial have completed their first full day of deliberations and have gone home for the weekend.
The case was sent to jurors Thursday evening after prosecution and defense attorneys had their final say during closing arguments. Deliberations on 20 criminal counts against Blagojevich began Friday morning. Jurors have already selected their foreman.
Other headlines coming out of the courtroom Friday include the reclassification of one of the jurors and a defense motion for mistrial.
Blagojevich also appeared in court in person to tell Judge James Zagel that he does not want to be present when or if the jury has a question.
During attorneys' last statements, the government's goals were twofold: clearly lay out charges against Blagojevich and prove the former governor was lying during his seven-day testimony.
"[Blagojevich] has every incentive to come in here and lie," Prosecutor Carrie Hamilton said. "He's trying to save himself."
For his part, defense Attorney Aaron Goldstein recalled Sam Adam Jr.'s performance during the first trial and told jurors Blagojevich didn't commit a crime. Goldstein pointed out the former governor just likes to talk, as jurors saw during his rambling, 27-hour testimony.
"You're not here to decide good or bad," he said. "(You're) here to decide if that man committed a crime."
Who did the better job? Who proved their point? After 27 days of testimony and 21 witnesses, it's left to be seen. The jury took 14 days to decide last time around. They found him guilty on one count -- lying to the FBI -- and deadlocked on the rest.
This jury must decide on many of those remaining counts, including whether or not Blagojevich tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama's old U.S. Senate seat for a top job or campaign cash.
