Blago lawyer: Defense plans to call Emanuel

[July 20, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A lawyer for Rod Blagojevich says the defense plans to call White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel as a witness in the ousted Illinois governor's corruption trial.

Attorney Sam Adam Jr. also said the defense currently has no intention of calling White House adviser Valerie Jarrett.

Jarrett is a longtime friend of President Barack Obama. Prosecution witnesses said Blagojevich had considered appointing her to the U.S. Senate seat Obama was giving up to move to the White House if Obama would give him a Cabinet post. Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to scheming to trade or sell the seat.

A lobbyist testified earlier that Emanuel urged him to make sure Blagojevich knew the president-elect wanted Jarrett to get the Senate seat.

[Associated Press; By MICHAEL TARM]

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