Judge says no Obama subpoena in Blagojevich case

U.S. District Judge James Zagel today refused Rod Blagojevich's request to subpoena President Obama as a witness in his corruption trial.

The judge ruled in a hearing at the Dirksen Building in downtown Chicago that Blagojevich's defense team had not produced sufficient evidence that Obama would have anything material to say in testimony.

Blagojevich's lawyers had argued that Obama could contradict the prosecution's case alleging Blagojevich talked to a labor-union official as a go-between in an attempt to trade a U.S. Senate appointment for Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett in exchange for a cabinet post. The defense pointed to Obama's public comment that he was "confident that no representative of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat."

Yet legal experts countered that any Obama testimony would be largely hearsay, as there are no indications he had any direct contact with Blagojevich on the matter, and the judge agreed, declining the subpoena.

DePaul University law professor Leonard Cavise said the subpoena never had much of a chance of being granted. "This is merely an attempt to keep the case in the headlines," he added.

The trial of the former Illinois governor on corruption, racketeering and conspiracy charges is still set to start June 3.

Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.