Inherit The Windbag: Blago Trapped In The (Water) Closet

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 8, 2010 6:20PM

We couldn't resist posting this now instead of saving it for tomorrow's recap: during testimony today, former Deputy Governor Robert Greenlee testified about Blago's less than frequent office appearances and even Rod's tendency to duck out and hide from advisers... in an office bathroom. Greenlee testified today that Rod's presence in his office was as low as two-to-eight hours a week. From Natasha Korecki at the Sun-Times:

Getting Blagojevich to take action on bills was a challenge, Greenlee said. Often times -- with a bill's 60-day window coming to a close, meaning it would automatically become law without the governor's say-so -- Greenlee would have to track the governor down to review and veto.

He tried to "trap him" at events or in the car -- "where he had nothing else to do," he said.

But on one occasion, getting Blago to look over a stack of 20 pressing bills meant Greenlee had to tag along with the governor and his family when they went to dinner at Chicago's Southport Lanes.

Greenlee also gave an example of Blago hiding from budgetary advisers like John Filan. From the Tribune: "Blagojevich would go out of his way to avoid Filan, hiding in the bathroom and holding up in his office until Filan left, Greenlee recalled." Given that R. Kelly's attorneys - Sam Adam, Sr. and Jr. - helm Blago's defense, we're anxious to see if Blago dropped a Kelly lyric or two in those wiretap tapes. Come on, Rod, gimme that toot toot and that beep beep.

We'll have more on this plus other updates to the trial tomorrow morning.