Prosecutors wrapping up case against Blagojevich

[May 19, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- The ball will soon be in Rod Blagojevich's court at the ousted Illinois governor's corruption retrial.

Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case Thursday after presenting evidence for three weeks.

After prosecutors call their last few witnesses, Blagojevich and his defense team will have to decide whether to mount a case themselves. They haven't yet said what they'll do.

Prosecutors have heeded complaints from last year's jury that their case was too complicated. Jurors at that trial deadlocked on all but one charge, convicting him of lying to the FBI.

During the first trial, the defense did not present any witnesses.

Blagojevich faces 20 charges at the retrial, including that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.

[Associated Press]

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