Blagojevich Trial takes on a Circus Atmosphere

Is it possible for events outside of Rod Blagojevich's trial to be as interesting as those inside the courtroom? As the governor left the federal courthouse he was met with shouts of approval, applause and requests for an autograph. Blagojevich couldn't say no to his adoring fans - a red carpet of sorts for the defendant who clearly likes the attention - even if it is outside his own political corruption trial .
Earlier in the day, his wife Patti kept a short leash on her husband and pulled him by the hand into the Dirksen Federal Building. It was one day after prosecutors filed a motion to gag Blagojevich during the trial. But the ex-governor could hardly contain himself with a crowd of cameras near.

He struggled to walk away from the crowd and even gestured with a zipping motion across his lips. He knows the judge would prefer he limit his public comments.

Hours later, upstairs in the courthouse cafeteria, the daily specials profiled the building's celebrity defendant. On the chalkboard: "The innocent Blago sandwich"--another suggestion below it: the "patty melt" --here it's spelled with a "y".

Funny to some, but not all. The Blagojevichs eat in that cafeteria every day and so do plenty of jurors selected to decide his case. The media and anyone else working in the courthouse eat there, too--including judges and lawyers. The sign was eventually erased.

But the real drama came during the lunch hour when Joseph Cari finished testifying. He's a national fundraiser for the Democratic Party and a lawyer who also owned a private equity firm.

He told the jury that when convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko came calling to raise money for Blagojevich, Cari was promised state business - to the tune of $80 million. His understanding was there would be a quid pro quo rewarding friends.

After testifying, Cari exited the courthouse and accidentally collided with a cameraman. The government witness stopped, slowly fell to the ground and dropped like a basketball player drawing a foul. Then he rolled over on his stomach - hardly moving for minutes. As people called 911, he waited until a US Marshal came to his aid before getting up, dusting off, re-entered the building and headed out a back door. Hoping, perhaps, to avoid being followed.

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[brsfan66]

I want to smell her box.

[TangTuyetMinh]

Another Chicago thug is going down.

lol......

[aknowneemus]

i trust Blago more than that fuckin jesse jr. or his corrupt dad. Lock those two up!

blago is innocent even if he's found guilty.

the govt. has unlimited funds to prosecute,they're pricks.

[cannoir]

@vaisanava my the reporter's name is Unruh , julie Unruh unruh means perturbation. ich lache micht tot lol!

[cannoir]

his wife has a nice arse. lucky bastid

[boxbot5]

this news video is a grim reminder of what assholes these ppl are...instead of helping the guy who fell to the ground all that 1 woman does is shove a microphone towards him. and everyone else just steps back like the guy is a wounded doe w/ its mother about to charge..would it have been too much to give the guy some help up?

[vaisanava]

This news video is a grim reminder of where our government is heading. Its time for the nation to pull out the weeds and and set the pork fat on fire.