[Former Illinois Governor] Rod Blagojevich’s own lawyer said Tuesday that his client is “foolish” and not the “sharpest knife in the drawer,” but said that is no reason to convict the former Democratic governor of Illinois of corruption.
In his closing argument, attorney Sam Adam Jr. asked the jury to question whether Blagojevich actually committed the crime he is accused of – trying to sell President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat – and asked that they not convict Blagojevich just because of “silly” statements made by the flamboyant ex-governor
“No one’s going to say he’s the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he’s not corrupt,” Adam said, as was reported by the Chicago Tribune. “Think about who he was trying to extort. The President of the United States? Give me a break!”
Fortunately, there's no such thing as the "stupidity defense" -- though it can't be far behind if politicians keep being put on trial. Fun fact: The insanity defense was first sucessfully employed in America to defend congressmen.