Blagojevich Seeks Audio Recordings During Sentencing

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has a request for the judge who is scheduled to sentence him next month. He's hoping it could lead to a lighter prison sentence. Blagojevich wants to play in court previously sealed portions of federal wiretap recordings. His attorneys filed the request on Thanksgiving Day.

Blagojevich's lawyers say he should be allowed to use parts of tapes as a way to argue that he deserves a lighter sentence. They say the tapes will describe Blagojevich's state of mind and "lack of ill intent."

The portions that the ex-governor wants played were blocked from being heard at his trial last June when he was convicted on 17 of 20 charges.

Those charges included attempted extortion for trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevich's sentencing hearing is set to begin Dec. 6 before U.S. District Judge James Zagel.