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Blagojevich pleads not guilty to corruption charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to corruption charges Tuesday before the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Earlier this month, Blagojevich was indicted on 16 felony counts, including wire fraud, attempted extortion, racketeering conspiracy, extortion conspiracy, and making false statements. Blagojevich pleaded not guilty on all counts. Also indicted were his brother Robert Blagojevich, who also pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, his former chief of staff John Harris, campaign fundraiser and former fund chairman Christopher Kelly, fundraiser William Cellini, and former general counsel and campaign fund chairman Alonzo Monk. Harris, Kelly, and Cellini will be arraigned Thursday, and Monk is scheduled for arraignment next week. In January, the Illinois State Senate voted unanimously to convict Blagojevich of abuse of power and remove him from office. Blagojevich is the first Illinois governor to be impeached and removed from office. Blagojevich had boycotted the impeachment proceedings against him, appearing only at the end of the Senate hearings to make a final plea to remain in office. Blagojevich and Harris were initially arrested in December.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 14, 2009 (boomark / email).