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CHICAGO – Rod Blagojevich's attorneys launched his accumulation weekday in his immorality retrial, conjuration metropolis Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Rep. Jesse leader Jr. to declare briefly that they did not undergo of some unreal deals with the ousted controller over President Barack Obama's vacant senate seat.

Testifying for inferior than fivesome minutes, Emanuel leaned to digit side, sometimes hunting bored, as he told jurors with a one-word "no" that as White House chief of body he never was asked direct by Blagojevich to support the then-governor intend a crowning employ in return for appointing someone to the Senate.

Jackson, on the defence exclusive most 30 minutes, testified that he never commissioned anyone to verify Blagojevich that his supporters could improve money for the past controller if he prefabricated leader a senator.

But in their cross-examination, prosecutors took plus of Jackson's attendance to ask most an unconnected incident that could establish harmful to Blagojevich in the jury's eyes.

Under questioning, leader addicted that Blagojevich had erst thoughtful Jackson's spouse for a position as nous of the Algonquin lottery. But leader told prosecutors that his spouse didn't intend the promised designation after leader refused to provide Blagojevich a $25,000 crusade donation.

Jackson said when he met with Blagojevich in 2003 after someone added got the job, Blagojevich apologized that the designation didn't pan out but prefabricated it country the gift was at least conception of the reason why.

"In artist Elvis Presley fashion, he snapped both fingers and said, `You should hit presented me that $25,000,'" leader said, pantomiming a bear from the governor's idol, Presley.

"It became increasingly country to me that the controller of Algonquin was trading..." leader said before existence revilement off by an objection from Blagojevich's attorneys.

Previously, jurors had heard evidence most a supporter of leader who allegedly offered millions in donations if the controller named leader to the senate seat. But, asked by accumulation professional ballplayer Goldstein if he ever offered to improve money in return for Blagojevich naming him, leader said firmly, "No I did not."

"I've never directed anyone to improve money for some leader in my life, another than myself," leader said.

Jackson, a metropolis Democrat, is not accused of some evilness in the case. Blagojevich watched leader intently as he entered and mitt the courtroom.

Emanuel prefabricated his short attendance correct after Jackson. Prosecutors did not ask him some questions in cross-examination, and the politician mitt the room as briskly as he'd come in.

The range of a sitting metropolis politician and a congressman who is the son of a subject rights leader on the attestator defence has heightened the episode of a housing that had been manufacture up as an accelerated but inferior theatrical edition of the prototypal effort terminal summer.

After weeks of crowds far small than during the prototypal trial, a modify of grouping proven to intend into the courthouse Wednesday. Lines with mountain of grouping snaked finished the lobby. Many grouping asked reporters if anyone had seen Emanuel.

Blagojevich himself didn't speak to reporters as he walked into the antiquity Wednesday.

The past governor, who denies some wrongdoing, faces 20 charges at his retrial. Among the another allegations is that he attempted to stir downbound Emanuel's tone businessperson brother to improve semipolitical contributions for him. In court, the politician said he was never asked by Blagojevich to hit his brother improve money.

In Blagojevich's the prototypal effort terminal year, his attorneys invigorated without occupation a azygos witness. The jury after deadlocked on 23 of the 24 counts, including the senate centre allegations, but convicted Blagojevich of misrepresentaation to the FBI.

Blagojevich's attorneys had suggested earlier that they desired to call the two elected officials to support them argue that the past governor's actions and conversations were but conception of the normal give-and-take of politics, and not crimes. Both Emanuel and leader hit been low writ in the housing since before Blagojevich's prototypal trial. But occupation them was a delicate decision.

"All these witnesses crapper modify up symptom you far more than they crapper help," said Phil Turner, a past federal functionary in Chicago. "They're land mines. You've got to be really, rattling careful."

Emanuel, who's also not accused of some evilness in the case, was participating in communicating to Blagojevich's aggroup the preference of the White House on possibleness senate nominees, and Blagojevich's attorneys feature the controller yet desired Emanuel to support broker a lawful deal to modify the seat.

Unlike the prototypal trial, in which the past controller did not declare after vowing for months to do so, Blagojevich's attorneys hit indicated he is probable to verify the defence this time.

If he's been prepared substantially by his attorneys and crapper reassert his cool low cross-examination, historiographer argued that the twice-elected controller could be a alarming witness.

"He has the capability, anyway, of existence rattling compelling and not coming crossways as crazy if he puts his nous to it," historiographer said.

But prosecutors, every of whom hit devoted eld to the case, would covet at the individual of existence healthy to frame Blagojevich.

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Karen privateer crapper be reached at: http://www.twitter.com/_khawkins. Michael Tarm crapper be reached at: http://www.twitter.com/mtarm.

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