In her opening statement for the government, prosecutor Carrie E. Hamilton said Blagojevich was out to get payoffs and campaign money and was part of "a series of illegal shakedowns." She said there was also a plan about what he could do for his close advisers to cash in.
"When he was supposed to be asking, 'What about the people of Illinois,' he was asking, 'What about me?"' Hamilton said.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to trying to sell or trade Obama's former Senate seat. He also denies that he plotted to turn his power as governor into a moneymaking scheme for himself and insiders.
Hamilton began by telling jurors that in 2008, Children's Memorial Hospital was trying to get money from the state.
Blagojevich agreed to commit millions of dollars, she said, "but there was a catch." "Now that he decided to help the hospital, he wanted to be sure the hospital helped him," she said.
Hamilton said the pattern was that once Blagojevich detected interest from someone, he would try to find way to get something out of them. He used those close to him as "middlemen," she said.
"They sat together to devise a way to divide up the state of Illinois for their own personal profit." The former governor's co-defendant — and brother — Robert Blagojevich, 54, a Nashville, Tennessee, businessman, has pleaded not guilty to taking part in the alleged plan to sell the Senate seat and plotting to illegally squeeze a racetrack owner for a hefty contribution to the Blagojevich campaign fund.
Hamilton had opened the trial of Tony Rezko, one of Blagojevich's top fundraisers, by describing him as "the man behind the curtain, pulling the strings." Rezko was convicted of fraud and other offenses.
The jury was sworn in earlier Tuesday. Including alternates, the panel has 11 women and seven men.
One of Blagojevich's attorneys, Sam Adam Jr., was expected to later present the opening statement to jurors for the defense. To date, Adam is best known for his theatrical — and successful — defense of R and amp;B star R. Kelly two years ago. He'll deliver the opening for the ousted governor.
The judge has told Adam that he can have only an hour and 45 minutes for his statement even though he asked for up to two and a half hours.
Both the main courtroom and an overflow room were packed to capacity as opening arguments began.
