Federal corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich begins

Jury selection in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich resumed this afternoon with Judge James B. Zagel quizzing candidates on their reading and TV-viewing habits to gauge how much they might know about the case.

Zagel has ruled that jurors' identities will not be disclosed until the end of the trial, so he referred to them by numbers.

Number 102 was a black female in her 50s who said she once did campaign work for Ald. Sandi Jackson, wife of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. who has been subpoenaed by the defense to testify in the case.

Number 102 said she knew that Patti Blagojevich had appeared on a reality TV show . “I know she was on,” the woman said. “Something about some bugs or something.”
The woman also said she had a vague recollection that “Mr. Blagojevich was on some kind of reality show or something, too, but I can’t remember what that was.”

Juror No. 111, an international flight attendant, told Zagel she watches TV news. “I usually watch it for the weather,” she answered.

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