A re-trial could be scheduled Thursday for ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his brother, Robert. A hearing this morning is the first one in public since jurors wrapped up deliberations, deadlocked on most counts.Â
Expected topics Thursday morning include who will represent Blagojevich in a second trial, and when that trial will begin. Judge James Zagel met privately with lawyers last week, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting, and mentioned January as a possible start time. Prosecutors have said they’re ready for a retrial to begin quickly, but scheduling conflicts for lawyers and the judge – plus the fact that a new jury will have to be picked – could lead to the delay.
Blagojevich’s legal team this time around may be publicly-funded, and therefore much smaller than the one that represented him during the first trial. That’s because his once-flush campaign fundraising account has been drained.
The jury last week found Rod Blagojevich guilty of lying to the FBI, but couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on the 23 other charges against him. Since then, the ex-governor has gone on a national media tour, claiming he’s being persecuted by the government.
Originally reported by Chicago Public Radio. Read the original article here.
