Union leader back on stand at Blagojevich retrial

[May 10, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A union leader will take the stand again at the corruption retrial of Rod Blagojevich to face more questions from the former Illinois governor's defense attorney.

Tom Balanoff takes the stand for a second day Tuesday to address allegations that Blagojevich sought to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

As testimony wound to a close Monday, Judge James Zagel warned defense attorney Aaron Goldstein not to keep trying to make arguments in the form of questions to jurors.

Zagel told Goldstein he could cut his cross-examinations short and have him sit down if he persisted.

When Goldstein asked if he could respond to the judge's admonition, Zagel responded, "I don't want you to respond to it. I want you to comply with it."

[Associated Press]

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