Rod Blagojevich

We didn't cross lines or make a mistake. Maybe I missed something. And, you know, this was unique. And so I explored all kinds of ideas. I even spent one conversation. I think you might appreciate this. They played this at court in my first trial. My wife sitting there, loving, dutiful, devoted, faithful wife, sitting in a courtroom every single day at both trials.

We didn't cross lines or make a mistake. Maybe I missed something. And, you know, this was unique. And so I explored all kinds of ideas. I even spent one conversation. I think you might appreciate this. They played this at court in my first trial. My wife sitting there, loving, dutiful, devoted, faithful wife, sitting in a courtroom every single day at both trials.

And the media is in there every day. And they could do whatever they want, these prosecutors. The judge was their guy. And so they're playing all these tapes out of context. They're not allowing me to play tapes. We want to fill up the context. They only play 2% of the tapes. They denied 98% of them. To this day, those tapes are covered up because all kinds of people are on those calls.

And the media is in there every day. And they could do whatever they want, these prosecutors. The judge was their guy. And so they're playing all these tapes out of context. They're not allowing me to play tapes. We want to fill up the context. They only play 2% of the tapes. They denied 98% of them. To this day, those tapes are covered up because all kinds of people are on those calls.

And the media is in there every day. And they could do whatever they want, these prosecutors. The judge was their guy. And so they're playing all these tapes out of context. They're not allowing me to play tapes. We want to fill up the context. They only play 2% of the tapes. They denied 98% of them. To this day, those tapes are covered up because all kinds of people are on those calls.

There wasn't anything illegal about it. But Rahm Emanuel, Harry Reid at the time was the Democratic leader – every possible big-time Democrats on those calls with me. But to go back to some of these crazy ideas, I was trying to appoint someone who was black but not in politics. I was looking for a military hero of some sort. Everybody wanted me to make them senators, you can imagine, in politics.

There wasn't anything illegal about it. But Rahm Emanuel, Harry Reid at the time was the Democratic leader – every possible big-time Democrats on those calls with me. But to go back to some of these crazy ideas, I was trying to appoint someone who was black but not in politics. I was looking for a military hero of some sort. Everybody wanted me to make them senators, you can imagine, in politics.

There wasn't anything illegal about it. But Rahm Emanuel, Harry Reid at the time was the Democratic leader – every possible big-time Democrats on those calls with me. But to go back to some of these crazy ideas, I was trying to appoint someone who was black but not in politics. I was looking for a military hero of some sort. Everybody wanted me to make them senators, you can imagine, in politics.

I wanted to think outside the box, and we were testing all these ideas, including Oprah.

I wanted to think outside the box, and we were testing all these ideas, including Oprah.

I wanted to think outside the box, and we were testing all these ideas, including Oprah.

If that's the case, I'm going to do what Ellen DeGeneres did. I'm going to move to England.

If that's the case, I'm going to do what Ellen DeGeneres did. I'm going to move to England.

If that's the case, I'm going to do what Ellen DeGeneres did. I'm going to move to England.

So anyway, so I'm at the first trial, they're playing these tapes and they had to give you these transcript books so you can see in writing what you can actually hear when they play the tape. And by then I had gotten used to trying to know what was coming so I can brace myself, you know. And they pick all the unflattering stuff. But none of it's criminal.

So anyway, so I'm at the first trial, they're playing these tapes and they had to give you these transcript books so you can see in writing what you can actually hear when they play the tape. And by then I had gotten used to trying to know what was coming so I can brace myself, you know. And they pick all the unflattering stuff. But none of it's criminal.

So anyway, so I'm at the first trial, they're playing these tapes and they had to give you these transcript books so you can see in writing what you can actually hear when they play the tape. And by then I had gotten used to trying to know what was coming so I can brace myself, you know. And they pick all the unflattering stuff. But none of it's criminal.

And if you put the rest of the calls in there, it fills out the context. Of course. So in this one particular call, I asked my lawyer, Quinlan's his name. Hey, Quinlan, what's the rule again on residency requirements? How long do you have to live in Illinois to be a senator? And he said, just one day. And you got to be 30 years old and you can be a naturalized citizen or American-born citizen.

And if you put the rest of the calls in there, it fills out the context. Of course. So in this one particular call, I asked my lawyer, Quinlan's his name. Hey, Quinlan, what's the rule again on residency requirements? How long do you have to live in Illinois to be a senator? And he said, just one day. And you got to be 30 years old and you can be a naturalized citizen or American-born citizen.

And if you put the rest of the calls in there, it fills out the context. Of course. So in this one particular call, I asked my lawyer, Quinlan's his name. Hey, Quinlan, what's the rule again on residency requirements? How long do you have to live in Illinois to be a senator? And he said, just one day. And you got to be 30 years old and you can be a naturalized citizen or American-born citizen.