Tape played of Blago learning of FBI recordings

Prosecutors have presented it as the alleged hand-in-the-cookie jar moment.

Prosecutors at former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial Wednesday played a critical FBI wiretap recording where his demeanor changes in an instant. It hits him he may be in serious legal trouble.

In earlier recordings heard at the retrial, Blagojevich is foul-mouthed and blunt. He's rarely at a loss for words.

But that changes when an aide calls him late on Dec. 4, 2008, to tell Blagojevich the FBI's apparently been secretly recording him.

A shell-shocked Blagojevich falls silent for ten seconds. The silence is broken only by the governor's heavy breathing through the receiver as he struggles to process what he just heard.

He finally asked in a hush, "Recordings of me?"

Five days later, Blagojevich was arrested.