A deputy governor under Rod Blagojevich will be back on the stand Thursday morning in the former Illinois governor’s retrial.  When Bob Greenlee was on the stand in the first trial, he dropped headline-grabbing bombs saying the governor would hide in the bathroom to avoid his budget director.  Greenlee also estimated that the governor spent only two to eight hours in the office per week. 

He seemed to take great pleasure in making Blagojevich look bad, but he’s been more subdued this time around, possibly because Judge James Zagel admonished prosecutors to tone down certain aspects of their case.

On Wednesday jurors heard a conference call in which Greenlee and other advisors ask why Blagojevich is thinking of appointing Jesse Jackson Jr. to Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.  Blagojevich is cagey and refuses to give a straight answer.

YANG: Hey Governor, is essentially the deal with Jesse Jr. will be that the Jackson’s will support you for re-election?

BLAGOJEVICH: No, there’s more to it.  

YANG: What else?

BLAGOJEVICH: There’s tangible, concrete tangible stuff from supporters.

YANG: Like what?

BLAGOJEVICH: Well like, you know, you know what I’m talking about.  Political, tangible political support, Fred.  

YANG: Okay.  Alright.

BLAGOJEVICH: Specific amounts and everything.

Defense attorneys will likely start their cross of Greenlee Thursday morning.