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      CHICAGO (AP) - The federal judge who will sentence Rod
Blagojevich had harsh words for the former Illinois governor's
attorneys as he denied a request Monday to play new federal wiretap
tapes in court.


      Blagojevich was convicted at two separate trials on 18
corruption counts, including allegations he tried to sell or trade
President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich will
be sentenced next week, and his lawyers last week submitted a list
of 180 secret tape recordings the FBI made of the governor and
others.


      Parts of some recordings were played during his trials, but
Blagojevich has long argued that authorities should "play all the
tapes." He says some of the recordings hold evidence demonstrating
his innocence.


      But Judge James Zagel said Blagojevich's attorneys hadn't said
what they specifically wanted to prove and what sections of the
tapes they wanted to use, echoing complaints made by federal
prosecutors.


      "What this motion requests is my blind approval of the use of
whatever excerpts it decides are relevant to `lack of ill intent'
and admissible ... at sentencing," Zagel said. "That request is
denied."


      Zagel also derided the timing of Blagojevich's motion, which was
filed Thanksgiving Day. He said the federal courts were closed
except for emergencies both Thursday and Friday, and there was no
reason for Blagojevich - who was convicted on 17 of 20 counts in
June - to wait this long.


      He also pointed out that the motion was dated Monday, Nov. 28,
even though it was filed Thursday, and that his attorneys did not
notify the judge when they filed it.


      "This practice is difficult to defend under any circumstances
and made more so because of the nature of the motion," Zagel said.


      Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky did not return messages
seeking comment. Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S.
attorney's office, declined to comment.


      Blagojevich's first trial ended deadlocked with jurors agreeing
on just one of 24 counts - that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors
at his recent retrial convicted Blagojevich on 17 of 20 counts,
including bribery and attempted extortion related to his handling
of a U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.


      Most legal observers expect the 54-year-old former governor to
receive about 10 years in prison, though he technically faces up to
305 years in prison. Both sides are expected to file their
suggestions on sentencing this week.


      Judges generally frown on felons who continue to maintain their
innocence at sentencing, Chicago-based federal defense attorney Gal
Pissetzky said last week.


      "At sentencing, you need to accept the jury verdict and then
fight for your innocence later on appeal," he said. "If you
continue to shove it in the judge's face by fighting your innocence
at sentencing, it takes away from your goal of less time in
prison."


      The judge scheduled a Friday hearing on another Blagojevich
request related to a government witness, John Wyma. Blagojevich's
attorneys are questioning whether Wyma helped the government "in
exchange for a government benefit." Prosecutors denied that
allegation at trial.


--- Associated Press writer Michael Tarm contributed to this report.

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The federal judge who will sentence Rod Blagojevich had harsh words for the former Illinois governor's attorneys.

Judge denies Blagojevich request to hear new tapes

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