Blago Retrial: Daily Journal 5/3

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What to Expect Today:

Testimony is scheduled to begin after 12 jurors and six alternates were finalized Monday to determine Rod Blagojevich's fate in his second corruption trial. Following Monday's opening statements, FBI agent Daniel Cain, who led the investigation of the former governor, likely will be first up Tuesday on the stand. Prosecutors also plan to question John Harris, Blagojevich's last chief of staff.

The Day's Updates:

5:15 p.m. -- Testimony finishes (read up).

4:30 p.m. -- Prosecutors play tapes containing conversations between Blagojevich and Harris in which Blago insists on getting something in exchange for appointing someone to the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

1 p.m.: Harris' testimony shows obvious signs of the retrial's streamlined nature. Harris touched on topics Tuesday that he didn't mention until a couple days into his testimony during Blagojevich's first trial.

12:21 p.m.: John Harris talks about his years with Blagojevich and touches on several shakedown schemes, including the alleged sale of Barack Obama's seat. Harris also said the former governor once offered the seat to Illinois Senate president Emil Jones, the Sun-Times' Natasha Korecki reports.

10:52 a.m.: The prosecution objects to defense lawyer Lauren Kaeseberg asking Cain questions that Zagel ruled could not be asked. Away from the jury's presence, Zagel warned the defense the questions were out of line.

10:15 a.m. Cain says the wiretapping happened at "The Wire Room," a secure FBI office in the Chicago area. Calls were transmitted from telephone lines, then a computer system captured them and agents recorded them.

10:12 a.m.: Testimony begins with FBI Special Agent Dan Cain explaining wiretaps and why the Blagojevich investigation began.

10 a.m.: Before testimony begins, Judge James Zagel gives prosecutors approval to introduce a Chicago Tribune newspaper clip quoting Blagojevich in April 2006 commenting on former Gov. George Ryan's corruption conviction, the Tribune reports. Prosecutors plan to use the clip to show Blagojevich knew the difference between legal and illegal conduct.