Its almost like Groundhogs Day at the Dirksen Federal building in Chicago, as jurors begin day #14 in Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial.  Deliberations began on July 28th.  Today the jury will be armed with some new paperwork; the transcripts from former Deputy Illinois Governor Bradley Tusk.  Tusk testified that Blago plotted to withhold a state grant for a public school in then-congressman Rahm Emanuel’s district, until Emanuel got his Hollywood-agent brother, Ari Emanuel, to hold a fundraiser for the former Governor.  The fundraiser never happened, apparently because Tusk never relayed that message to Emanuel.  The school eventually got the grant cash though. (Ari Emanuel is apparently the inspiration for the main character of the show “Entourage”, played by Jeremy Piven).

Some legal experts believe having the jury ask for Tusk’s testimony is a positive sign for the prosecution, because unlike some of the other witnesses, Tusk did not make a deal with prosecutors, so he has no reason to lie.  He got no benefit from his testimony, so he might be more believable.

The Tusk transcript request is the fifth note from the jury so far.  Blagojevich is facing a total of 24 counts, including racketeering, wire fraud and lying to federal agents.