- Major Setback for Feds
Not surprisingly, one can look to the Chicago Tribune for a comprehensive set of stories on the failed trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was found guilty on just one charge – lying to the FBI – with the federal jury deadlocking on the remaining 23 counts. The paper points out in its main news story that Blago and his attorneys used the verdict to taunt 2010 Lawdragon 500 member Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney in Chicago. Defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. did not mince words: "This guy Fitzgerald is a master at indicting people for noncriminal activity.” He called the prosecutor “nuts.” The other defense attorney, Sam Adam Jr., chimed in: “We didn't even put a defense on, and the government couldn't prove his case."
Both sides, the paper points out, are already preparing for the retrial. Fitzgerald did not reply to the taunts, and instead said that “for all practical purposes, we are in the mode of being close to jury selection for a retrial.” Blago, meanwhile, is looking forward to proving that he is innocent of lying to the FBI.
As part of its package, the Tribune also runs a story based on juror interviews. Apparently, they came as close to 11-1 on several counts, but were more evenly split on others. One guy said he would have convicted on all counts. Another juror who is in college studying criminal justice, said the government’s case was too confusing: "They didn't follow a timeline. They jumped around."
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| 05:18 AM Aug 18, 2010 | Email the Daily Dragon | Email this Article | Post Comments |
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