Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Blagojevich trial: Just Rod and Rob

Talkleft:

The Government has agreed to sever the trial of William Cellini, a co-defendant of former Ill. Governor Rod Blagojovech. The reason: After dismissing the charges against deceased Chris Kelly, who was the link between Cellini and Blago (and because Cellini's charges, while he was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Blago's counts, had very little to do with either Blagojevich brother, absent the tie-in from Kelly,) the Government agreed that it was fairer to try Cellini separately. So the Government filed a motion, with which Cellini's lawyers agreed, that Cellini's trial should be severed and proceed after Blagojevich's trial. The Court approved.

Blagojevich's Chief of Staff, Robert Harris, agreed to an early plea deal, so he's gone. Last month, another co-defendant, Alonzo Monk, took a deal for 24 months in exchange for cooperating against Blagojevich (plea agreeement here.) Now that Cellini, Monk and Kelly are gone, the only two left are Rod Blagojevich and his brother Robert Blagojevich.

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