Blago, Prosecutors Argue Over Tapes

What's the difference between what former Gov. Rod Blagojevich says and what he means?

A whole lot, according to the government's first full day of cross-examining Blagojevich.

U.S. Attorney Reid Schar on Monday used several wiretap tapes to back up allegations that the former governor tried scheming political deals for his benefit -- including naming Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate in exchange for setting up a non-profit group worth millions.

But there's a problem with those tapes, Blagojevich said on the stand. He didn't mean what he said on those tapes.

At one point Schar asked about a conversation between Blagojevich and former adviser Doug Scofield.

In the taped discussion, Blagojevich asks Scofield to call John Wyma and ask him to talk to Rahm Emanuel about the nonprofit organization. He refers to funding issues and the Senate seat and says, “Well, it's unsaid. You understand what I'm sayin'?”

But Blagojevich insists he wasn't referring to a Senate seat deal.

"I expressly say it's not connected," Blagojevich said.

Schar also ventured that if Jarrett had made a deal with Blagojevich he would have "put her in the Senate in a heartbeat."

"I'm not sure what I would have done," Blagojevich said.

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