Blago would take 5th in casino lawsuit: attorney

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich would refuse to testify, asserting his rights under the 5th Amendment, if called to the witness stand in a civil suit in which a group of casinos are fighting Illinois racetracks for millions of dollars, one of his lawyers says.

Blagojevich would also assert his right to remain silent under the doctrine of legislative privilege -- designed to protect lawmakers from being bombarded by lawsuits over the measures that they pass, attorney Jay Edelson said Thursday.

In the lawsuit, a group of Illinois gambling casinos are trying to recover $90 million they have paid to Illinois racetracks under legislation signed by Blagojevich. The casinos say Blagojevich acted after receiving $125,000 in campaign money from racetrack interests.