Federal Judge Refuses to Delay Blago's Corruption Trial

Published March 17, 2010

| AP

A federal judge in Chicago has refused to postpone ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel says the trial must go ahead with its June 3 start.

Zagel dismissed complaints from Blagojevich's defense attorneys that they have too much work to do to get ready on time. They'd also cited the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court might find some of the charges in the indictment unconstitutional. The high court is considering related cases now.

The defense attorneys had lobbied for a Nov. 3 trial, but prosecutors countered that there's plenty of time to get ready before June.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and other charges that include allegations he schemed to sell or trade President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

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