Robert Blagojevich defends himself, ex-governor at brother's corruption trial

During testimony, he pleaded ignorance on some issues and claimed his brother was misunderstood on others
            
By Jeff Coen and John Chase, Tribune reporters

Inseparable as children, Rod and Robert Blagojevich drifted apart in adulthood as one brother's political aspirations landed him in Congress and the Illinois governor's office while the other made his way in the U.S. military and the business world in Tennessee.

But that changed in summer 2008, when Robert Blagojevich returned to Chicago to help his younger brother raise campaign cash. Just months later, Blagojevich saw his life turned upside down as he was caught on secret government recordings and charged in the sweeping political corruption case that knocked his brother from office.