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Blagojevich brother takes witness stand
CHICAGO, Rod Blagojevich's brother testified Monday in the former Illinois governor's corruption trial and described his role in the politician's fundraising operation.
Robert Blagojevich is charged, along with his brother, with attempting to gain financial benefit in exchange for naming a successor to the Illinois U.S. senate seat vacated by newly elected President Barack Obama after the 2008 election, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
When he first took the job as head of the Friends of Blagojevich in August 2008, Robert Blagojevich testified, he was told that while soliciting contributions from donors he was never allowed to accept a donation on a promise of governmental action.
"I was told never to tie the two, and I never did," Robert Blagojevich said.
He is accused of helping the former governor extort the chief executive officer of Children's Memorial Hospital by asking for a contribution when the hospital had a request for a pediatric rate increase in front of the governor, a charge he denies, the Sun-Times reported.
Robert Blagojevich testified he wasn't aware of a pediatric rate increase request when he asked CEO Patrick Magoon for a campaign contribution.
"Were you told to seek the contribution in exchange for government action?" Robert Blagojevich's attorney Michael Ettinger asked.
"No," was the reply.
"Would you have done that?" Ettinger asked.
"Absolutely not," Robert Blagojevich said.
CHICAGO, Rod Blagojevich's brother testified Monday in the former Illinois governor's corruption trial and described his role in the politician's fundraising operation.
Robert Blagojevich is charged, along with his brother, with attempting to gain financial benefit in exchange for naming a successor to the Illinois U.S. senate seat vacated by newly elected President Barack Obama after the 2008 election, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
When he first took the job as head of the Friends of Blagojevich in August 2008, Robert Blagojevich testified, he was told that while soliciting contributions from donors he was never allowed to accept a donation on a promise of governmental action.
"I was told never to tie the two, and I never did," Robert Blagojevich said.
He is accused of helping the former governor extort the chief executive officer of Children's Memorial Hospital by asking for a contribution when the hospital had a request for a pediatric rate increase in front of the governor, a charge he denies, the Sun-Times reported.
Robert Blagojevich testified he wasn't aware of a pediatric rate increase request when he asked CEO Patrick Magoon for a campaign contribution.
"Were you told to seek the contribution in exchange for government action?" Robert Blagojevich's attorney Michael Ettinger asked.
"No," was the reply.
"Would you have done that?" Ettinger asked.
"Absolutely not," Robert Blagojevich said.
