By Associated Press
Springfield, IL – The voice of Gov. Rod Blagojevich boomed through the Illinois Senate chambers as senators listened to secretly recorded conversations in which Blagojevich appears to talk about pressuring people for campaign donations.
The senators conducting the governor's impeachment trial listened intently to the few minutes of tape Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors say the subject of the conversations was whether a horse-racing lobbyist would make a campaign donation. If he didn't, prosecutors say, Blagojevich and his allies were threatening not to sign legislation the racing industry wanted. Blagojevich never specifically mentions money, but he and the others on the recordings talk about a lobbyist being "good for it" and keeping his "commitment."
At one point, the Democrat says the lobbyist should be told they hope to get done so the two sides can pick a date to sign the legislation.