CHICAGO — Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday asked a federal judge to issue a subpoena for President Barack Obama to testify as a witness at his corruption trial.
Blagojevich said in court papers filed by defense attorney Sam Adam that Obama would be able to resolve questions surrounding the government’s allegation that the former governor sought to sell or trade the seat left vacant after the president’s November 2008 election.
“President Barack Obama has direct knowledge of the Senate seat allegation,” said Blagojevich’s 11-page motion filed with U.S. District Judge James Zagel.
There was no allegation in the court papers of any wrongdoing on Obama’s part.
It would be extraordinary if a sitting president were subpoenaed to take the witness stand in a Chicago political corruption trial or any criminal trial.
Zagel has not indicated how he might respond to the unusual request.
