Blagojevich: He didn’t want cash for Senate seat

CHICAGO (AP) – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he wasn’t interested in taking campaign donations in exchange for President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

In his third day on the stand, the ousted governor has begun addressing the most explosive allegation against him – that he tried to sell or trade Obama’s Senate seat.

Blagojevich told jurors at his corruption retrial Tuesday that supporters of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson had promised to do “accelerated fundraising” for him if he appointed Jackson.

Blagojevich said such a deal didn’t appeal to him and sounded improper.

He says he had no intention of appointing Jackson with or without the offer of money.

In his first trial last year, Blagojevich was convicted of lying to the FBI. He’s denied any wrongdoing.