Blago to stand trial next year

Corruption trial for Blagojevich set for June 3
June 25, 2009 12:16 PM | No Comments
A federal judge today set trial for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his co-defendants for next June 3.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel set the date after Blagojevich's lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky, asked for as late a date as possible because of the more than three million pages of documents the defense must pore over.
Defense lawyers said they realize they have their work cut out for them, but they believe they can be ready by the trial date Zagel set.

There are four primary lawyers handling the case, they said, and a team of seven younger lawyers helping to process documents.

Asked how the case is shaping up, including the expected addition of former Blagojevich chiefs of staff John Harris and Lon Monk as witnesses, defense lawyer Sam Adam Jr. said it changes little.

"(Blagojevich) was not guilty then, and he's not guilty now," Adam. said, calling it inevitable that such witnesses would line up against the former governor. "You can bring in Lon Monk, you can bring in anyone you want, his position is the same."

Adam said Blagojevich expected to be reunited with his wife, Patricia, today after her stint on a reality TV show.

-- Jeff Coen