CHICAGO (AP) -- Judge James Zagel says closing arguments are not evidence.

Zagel handed copies of the jury's note to prosecutors and defense attorneys before denying the request Thursday.

Jurors are supposed to send notes if they want to ask the judge questions about legal issues or to notify him of other matters, like friction in the jury room.

Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich, have pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to sell or trade an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama gave up when he became president and illegally pressuring people for campaign donations.

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