*please excuse typos-tweeting in real time
(For complete tweet book for first and second trial - go to http://tweetbook.in/store/Msjournalist/Msjournalist-Tweet-Book8cea976847454e1965eecb1cd575012d.pdf)
Thursday, 26th of May.
03:54:47 Defense: Ex-gov. #Blagojevich to take stand http://bit.ly/iZ8eW4
07:36:49 I will be on WGN radio 720 am at 9:05 with Mike McConnell talking about #Blagojevich trial
08:36:12 @EricZorn thanks Eric. Blago just arrived. Looked as serious as a heart attack. I say he takesthe stand #Blagojevich
08:46:50 Looking nervous, pale in black suit white shirt #Blagojevich schmoozing in courtroom withspectators. I hear from source he will testify.
08:51:21 Here we go. Judge Zagel is here. Sidebar right now #Blagojevich
08:54:40 Gov is fidgety.Glancing at Patti. Touching a large binder in front of him at the table. Patti justpassed him something to read #Blagojevich
08:58:03 If Rod straightens his tie (beautiful by the way-black and silver Hermes?)one more time his headwill pop off his shoulders #Blagojevich
09:02:06 10 minute recess. Defense team standing and talking by their table. Rod and Goldstein in deep conversation. #Blagojevich
09:07:28 @EricZorn no icicles. I think the Judge wanted the break - bathroom? #Blagojevich
09:10:58 Jury here #Blagojevich
09:13:18 Rod takes the stand after kissing Patti. Goldstein questioning #Blagojevich
09:14:20 Jury mesmorized. Says he flunked drafting inm high school. Some jurors smiled
09:15:16 "I'm here to tell the truth. I've waited 2 and half yrs to get the truth out #Blagojevich
09:17:45 Goldstein shows him photo of mom dad and robert and rod. Up on screen. "I never did like that picture" #Blagojevich
09:19:19 Rod talking on and on about playoing Little League. Cut from lane tech tryouts. prosecutorsbiting their lips. #Blagojevich
09:22:08 Getting cut from high school baseball was "reality check"Now eyes Nba.Could spin a ball on hishand. Seinfeld would love this #Blagojevich
09:26:42 First job as shoe shine boy. At 9yrs old. Life lesson to get ahead and do good. Get more tips Patti smiling #Blagojevich
09:27:42 We will be here for days. In 25 minutes we are only at summer of 1974. #Blagojevich
09:31:29 Rod's dad worked on alaskan pipeline as janitor. Emotional- he says "parents will do anythingfor u"#Blagojevich
09:33:41 Rod worked on alaskan pipeline in 1976 to get $ for college."-met sarah palin week before I was arrested and told her about it "#Blagojevich
09:35:36 Rod's dad grt example of someone who lost everythinng.Fought Nazis and was prisoner of war.
Prosecutoers are beside themmselves#Blagojevich
09:36:56 Is this a courtroom version of a fillibuster? Wonder when judge puts the kabosh on this.#blagojevich
09:39:50 Rod very choked up "My dad never lived to see me elected"#Blagojevich
09:41:41 My husband is reading my tweets. Just sent me message "See you in September"#Blagojevich
09:44:56 Rod's mother was ahead of her time. She had him read books about powerful women- claireBarton. Florence Nightengale. #Blagojevich
09:47:37 Now we are at univ of tampa. He enjoyed classes. A student. Some jurors looking at us. NotRod. One rolled her eyes#Blagojevich
09:48:23 Aug 16 1977. Very signif in Rod's life. Why? Elvis died #Blagojevich
09:50:53 A legal analyst sitting next to me says the prosecution is biting their tongue. Judge waiting for objection. None yet #Blagojevich
09:52:01 We learn about his Aunt helen. He liked her. His mother's sister. We are not out of college yet#Blagojevich
09:53:37 Ms Dibble was Rod's teacher. Taught shakespeare. She died of breast or uterine cancer. Sad about that. Said a prayer for her #Blagojevich
10:02:55 Rod's daughter warns him today to watch his language when he takes the stand. "I would like to apologize to people of illinois #blagojevich
10:05:27 "When I hear myself on tape I'm a Effin jerk". As he talks lots of hand gestures and alternatesacing Goldstein and turning towards jury
10:17:52 Rod's real name is serbian- means "happy worker". He delivered pizza. Worked at helene curtis.He is describing smell of shampoo #blagojevich
10:19:35 One hour. We are just in law school. Rod was in a tv movie in malibu. Talking about lae schoolgrades. Jury is fidgety #blagojevich
10:22:01 Break now. 20 min #blagojevich
10:42:13 @sds52 thank you!
11:18:55 Govt has first objection. But Rod continues#blagojevich
11:19:56 Talking about Martin Luther king assasination april 4 1968. The turbulent times and lifeexperience shaped him #blagojevich
11:27:43 Twitter reception is a little funky. Just came back. Hopefully is good now. Rod still talking about passing bar. And first job #blagojevich
11:27:56 RT @natashakorecki: #Blagojevich "I can't say I came out of law school knowing much aboutlaw." He flunked bar
11:30:47 Rod started to talk about meeting Patti.Got competely choked up. Pointed to patti.She startedcrying. Break for lunch till 1:40#blagojevich
11:45:22 RT @nbcchicago: RT @Ward_Room: foreman from #1 trial: "if Blago would've testified during1st trial, we would of found him guilty for subjecting us to this.
12:22:26 Rod #Blagojevich takes the stand/ A courtroom filibuster http://bit.ly/jSUXjg
12:49:17 We are in the courtroom. Hoping twitter cooperates. Here's hoping for good reception#blagojevich
12:54:08 Govt: in effort to move things along asks for more focus. Judge: its his chance to tell his storyand he's taking it #blagojevich
12:58:36 Rod: Met patti. In 1988. She wore a red dress. Difficult time. Dad had stroke. Patti very nice tohis mother.#blagojevich
13:05:06 Patti smiling as Rod talks about buying ring for $5000 at Marshall Fields. Photo on screen ofRod and Lon Monk at rod's wedding #blagojevich
13:11:37 Won election state legislature in 1992. How Dick Mell (patti's dad) asked him to run. State repfor 4 yrs. #blagojevich
13:16:59 1996 Rod- congressional 5th district. Close to Jesse jackson Jr.Real close 1999 when rod wentto Serbia with jesse jackson sr.#blagojevich
13:21:59 Rod: Issues I had with Jesse Jackson Jr not because he didn't support me. I thought Jesse hadthe talent of a Barack Obama #blagojevich
13:24:55 Just showed 10 second video from Democr convention of Rod and jesse jackson jrhugging#blagojevich
13:29:09 Rod:do not remember Jesse asking to name Sandi to lottery. Remembers Jesse jackson srrecomending the woman who did get named #blagojevich
13:31:12 Judge Zagel: best if you just answer the narrow questions #blagojevich
13:34:46 Rod talking about how he met Tony Rezko. How he raised funds for him. Met chris kelly. Bothsignificant fund raisers #blagojevich
13:36:41 Gerry Kroezel (road builders) in beginning was bigger fundraiser th, Rezko or Kelly. Rod metKroezel thru Dick Mell. #blagojevich
13:37:57 Sidebar called as Rod began to talk about importance of fundraising- brought up Obama asexaample #blagojevich
13:42:43 Rod: when took oath as Gov - would fight for people- never take No foe answer- help ordinarypeople. Did meaningful things #blagojevich
13:45:20 During testimony, juror sneezes. Rod stops and says "God Bless you"#blagojevich
13:49:04 Rod giving long-winded answers. Judge tells him to listen carefully to questions #blagojevich
13:53:38 Brief recess. Judge: to defense the wwitness is going beond the Q. Said its the lawyers' jobwhen he pauses to ask another Q#blagojevich
14:02:52 U.S. Atty Patrick Fitgerald has been in the courtroom this afternoon #blagojevich
14:05:42 @Gustie85 yes. Still defense questioning. Probably thru july #blagojevich
14:09:38 Short break. The last time my thumbs felt like this was when my kids were little and we played tons of pacman #blagojevich
14:30:01 Rod says he appproved the school grant and thought they got the money "I expressedfrustration with Tusk" #blagojevich
14:30:34 Rod said he did not tell Harris to hold up grant #blagojevich
14:39:35 Rod: told harris to pay(grant) bill comes in. I delegate. There are 57,000 people working 4 Gov.Never told Tusk to hold up grant#blagojevich
14:41:54 Rod: never told tusk to hold up school grant for Fundraiser #blagojevich
14:44:34 Q: Did yyou ask John Wyma to ask Ari Emanuel for a fundraiser? Rod: Yes. Outside Ari's house in Brentwood calif. #blagojevich
14:47:25 Met Larry david at ari's.Rod big Curb your enthusiasm fan.Starts to elaborate.Govt stands toobject Rod "knew that would happen"#blagojevich
15:00:23 RT @Ward_Room: Patti #Blagojevich now laughs and covers her face with embarassmentevery time Rod tries to go way off track with long winded answers.
15:01:47 Jurors seem to be paying close attn. Are two that some say seem to be fawning over gov.Inoted they fawned over every witness#blagojevich
15:15:49 About tp change subjects. Brief sidebar #blagojevich
15:23:36 Rod says he never held up raace track legislation. No shake down for campaign contributions.#blagojevich
15:26:21 Goldstein refers to John Johnson(racetrack)as Johnny.Rod says he has known Johnny since2001.Big contributor and fundraiser for #blagojevich
15:27:18 Govt objects. Rod: I object to that one too #blagojevich
15:29:02 From 2002-06 chris Kelly resp for collecting money from Johnson. Later Monk took over#blagojevich
15:29:33 Court over until tomorroww morning #blagojevich
15:30:13 Court 9:30-noon. #blagojevich
15:31:09 Judge and counsel will now resume reviiew of tapes #blagojevich
15:41:57 Rod's on stand total 4 hours. #blagojevich
15:46:24 Rod not allowed to make statement as he is still on stand. Stay tuned tomorrow#blagojevich
18:24:51 Susan Berger on WGN radio with Mike McConnell discussing #Blagojevich trial this morning http://bit.ly/kjWIPU
18:30:18 @EricZorn Yes Eric. Lunch will be fun.
Friday, 27th of May.
08:46:49 #Blagojevich courtroom. Older daughter Amy is here sitting with Patti. Rod looks more relaxed.Smiling. Almost giddy. Rod on stand
09:00:34 Goldstein showing donor call list dated 9/22/08 to Rod indicating status that says Johnston(racetrack owner) pledged $100,000#Blagojevich
09:21:05 Transcripts of calls re- contribution by johnston. Now discussing recapture bill (revenue sharing betw casinos and racetrack #Blagojevich
09:29:53 Started to get into Chris Kelly. Now sidebar. Kelly has been a touchy subject - judge had givenstrict parameters about Kelly#Blagojevich
09:32:10 10 min break.Patti very animated engaged talking with Rod,Sorosky &vGoldstein standing atdefense table with their backs to us #Blagojevich
09:36:49 Patti dressed in lavender sweater, gry and whit blouse and gry skirt. Rod in grey suit with cobalt blue and white tie #Blagojevich
09:39:15 RT @natashakorecki: #Blagojevich trying to conjure a chokeup as his lawyer brings up the late Chris Kelly. Break now
10:06:05 Rod explains that Chris Kelly was motivated to push recaapture bill thru as way to help gethimself a presidential pardon#Blagojevich
10:11:26 Kelly was indicted on income tax fraud.He later committed suicide. The fact of suicide was notallowed in evidence at#blagojevich 1st trial
10:13:28 Rod said that Kelly had recently called for 1st time in almost a year to talk about getting apresidential pardon.#Blagojevich
10:15:11 "@Ward_Room: #Blagojevich on Kelly's urgent phone call to him: "Big bold red flag to be careful with this bill""
10:19:11 Blagojevich: Kelly involved in shakedown re recapture bill. That johnston knew Steinbrennerwho knew Jeb Bush who get get Pardon#Blagojevich
10:25:26 Rod explains tape 11/26/08 that said he needs time(re-recapture bill) to "sort out to see if there are any Madigan Shenanigans. #Blagojevich
10:28:47 Objection sustained when Goldstein asks rod "did u conspire to extort money..." Judge tellsgoldstein not to ask that #Blagojevich
10:30:50 Rod says he was not holding up bill to get campaign contributions #Blagojevich
10:50:39 Stopping for day until tues 9:30. Judge asks jury to stay for a bit "just in case"#Blagojevich
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