Blago: Feds won't let me prove innocence

[April 14, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is again lashing out at federal prosecutors ahead of his retrial on corruption charges.

He gave a three-minute statement Wednesday night to dozens of reporters and TV cameras at the steps of his Chicago home. He's accusing the prosecutors of using pretrial maneuvers in an effort to keep the defense from proving his innocence.

He said: "I'm innocent. I know that. The question is, 'Can we get the truth out?'"

Prosecutors are asking the judge to bar the defense from arguing that if all the secret FBI recordings of him were played, they would prove he did nothing wrong.

In his first trial, the jury convicted him of lying to the FBI but was deadlocked on the other charges.

[Associated Press; By MICHAEL TARM]

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