Rod Blagojevich

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.

So I say, because we were not finding the black military hero, why doesn't somebody go to California, ask Halle Berry if she'd like to be a United States senator? She comes to Illinois for one day, I'll make her a senator and maybe I could fuck her. I'm joking around. Right. Well, they play this, you know, in court. Oh, boy. And there's my wife sitting right there, you know. Oh, boy.

So I say, because we were not finding the black military hero, why doesn't somebody go to California, ask Halle Berry if she'd like to be a United States senator? She comes to Illinois for one day, I'll make her a senator and maybe I could fuck her. I'm joking around. Right. Well, they play this, you know, in court. Oh, boy. And there's my wife sitting right there, you know. Oh, boy.

So I say, because we were not finding the black military hero, why doesn't somebody go to California, ask Halle Berry if she'd like to be a United States senator? She comes to Illinois for one day, I'll make her a senator and maybe I could fuck her. I'm joking around. Right. Well, they play this, you know, in court. Oh, boy. And there's my wife sitting right there, you know. Oh, boy.

And I look ahead and I'm looking at the clock and there's like 10 minutes to go before noon where the judge is going to recess for lunch. And I'm thinking if I could just get there before they play this tape, I could at least, you know, kind of prepare her for what's coming. Right. And I made it. And so I tap her on the knee and I kind of showed her the book and I said, look, I was just kidding.

And I look ahead and I'm looking at the clock and there's like 10 minutes to go before noon where the judge is going to recess for lunch. And I'm thinking if I could just get there before they play this tape, I could at least, you know, kind of prepare her for what's coming. Right. And I made it. And so I tap her on the knee and I kind of showed her the book and I said, look, I was just kidding.

And I look ahead and I'm looking at the clock and there's like 10 minutes to go before noon where the judge is going to recess for lunch. And I'm thinking if I could just get there before they play this tape, I could at least, you know, kind of prepare her for what's coming. Right. And I made it. And so I tap her on the knee and I kind of showed her the book and I said, look, I was just kidding.

And her reaction was, what are you, 16? Right.