2010-06-09 13:18

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, center, arrives at the Federal Court building with his wife Patti, right, for his federal corruption trial Tuesday, June 8, 2010 in Chicago. [Agencies]

CHICAGO -- Rod Blagojevich is an honest man who "didn't take a dime," and jurors will know that in their gut by the end of the case, the former Illinois governor's fiery attorney said Tuesday at his corruption trial.

Blagojevich will also take the stand on his own behalf, not just let a lawyer speak for him, defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. said in his opening statements.

"The guy ain't corrupt," Adam whispered, after slamming his hand down. He said the ousted governor's wife, Patti Blagojevich, will take the stand as well.

Adam, who punctuated his opening remarks by waving his arm and pointing his fingers with his arm extended, said Blagojevich simply trusted the wrong people.

Now-convicted influence peddler Antoin "Tony" Rezko helped raise money for lots of political candidates, including Blagojevich, Adam said. But he told jurors that "not a single penny" of ill-gotten money went into Blagojevich's campaign fund or his own pockets.

"You have to be comatose not to figure out how to get a dollar out of $52 billion," Adam said, referring to the state budget. "But who didn't? Him!" he said indicating his client.

Adam says Blagojevich thought Rezko knew campaign laws because he was so good at raising money. Rezko has since been convicted of skimming campaign contributions and seeking personal kickbacks from companies.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat. He also denies that he plotted to turn his power as governor into a moneymaking scheme for himself and insiders.

A federal prosecutor told jurors earlier Blagojevich sought to use his power as governor to get benefits for himself and his inner circle. In her opening statement, prosecutor Carrie E. Hamilton methodically laid out what she called a pattern of lying, scheming and extortion that consumed the former governor's time in office, and intensified as his personal financial troubles deepened.

In referring to federal authorities, and their might against Blagojevich, Adam told jurors the same people that were chasing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden were chasing him.

"And you know how many illegal accounts they found, none. He's. Broke. He's broke."

The judge had given Adam -- best known for his theatrical and successful defense of R&B star R. Kelly two years ago -- an hour and 45 minutes for his statement. He had asked for up to two and a half hours.