Blago Trial Delayed Till April
The Chicago Tribune reports:
A federal judge agreed Friday to delay former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's retrial until April to give his defense team — down to just two lawyers — more time to prepare.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who had tentatively planned for the retrial to begin in early January, postponed its start until April 20.
Prosecutors objected to the delay, pointing out that Blagojevich's two remaining attorneys took part in the first trial. "The faulty premise is that they are starting from scratch," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar.
But the defense said the two will have to take on much heavier roles in the retrial.
Jurors deadlocked on 23 of the 24 counts against Blagojevich in the first trial, finding him guilty on one count of lying to federal investigators.
