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WORLD> America
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Blagojevich: I'm the victim of plot to raise taxes
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-24 14:29 The combative approach is a return to a favorite Blagojevich tactic. Since taking office six years ago, he has often portrayed himself as a lone champion of the people, outnumbered by uncaring lawmakers, a lazy bureaucracy and slick lobbyists.
The governor twisted facts or exaggerated to support his version of events. He has repeatedly said he wouldn't be allowed to call witnesses in the Senate trial, but that's not correct. Trial rules prohibit witnesses that federal prosecutors feel would interfere with their criminal case, such as Jarrett or Obama aide Rahm Emanuel, but Blagojevich could have called other people. He has specifically mentioned wanting to call governors and senators to testify about all the good he's done. Nothing in Senate rules would have barred those witnesses. Blagojevich never asked to have them testify. The trial rules also would have allowed him to introduce a report by Obama's transition team concluding that none of the president's aides received improper proposals from the Blagojevich administration. The governor also could have introduced any public comments they made. Amid his defiant remarks, Blagojevich displayed a brief moment of contrition, acknowledging for the first time since his arrest that he wasn't always perfect. "Notwithstanding mistakes and errors in judgment from time to time, most of the things I've done as governor have been the right things and have been things that helped people," he said.
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