corruption trial

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Defiant Blago: Trial a Big Waste of Money

They threw 'the kitchen sink' at me and failed

(Newser) - Because federal prosecutors got Rod Blagojevich on only 1 of 24 counts , we get to do this all over again. Let the posturing begin, as rounded up by the Chicago Tribune :
  • Rod Blagojevich: "The government threw everything but the kitchen sink at me, and on every charge but one
...

Blago Guilty on 1 Count: Lying to FBI

Jury can't decide on 23 others; feds will retry him

(Newser) - A federal jury has found ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of one count of lying to federal agents. The jury could not reach a decision on the other 23 counts after two weeks of deliberations, and the judge said he intends to declare a mistrial on them. Federal prosecutors say...

Blago Jurors Have Settled on Only 2 Counts

Judge wants them to keep deliberating

(Newser) - The Rod Blagojevich jury continues to be stuck: On its 12th day of deliberations, jurors informed the judge that they've settled on only two counts (it's not clear which ones), remain deadlocked on 11 others, and haven't even begun deliberating the remaining 11 related to wire fraud charges. The judge...

Blago Spent Whopping $400K on Clothes

 Blago Spent 
 Whopping 
 $400K on 
 Clothes 
paging imelda marcos

Blago Spent Whopping $400K on Clothes

Prosecutor accuses Patti of paying for it with suspect Rezko money

(Newser) - Looking as good as Rod Blagojevich does ain’t cheap. The ex-governor and his wife spent $400,000 on clothes while in office or running for it, according to testimony from a government financial analyst at Blagojevich’s corruption trial yesterday. Prosecutors followed that up by playing a wiretap tape...

'Senator Oprah' Sounded Good to Blago

Then-gov considered media titan to succeed Obama as senator

(Newser) - As Rod Blagojevich considered possible successors to Barack Obama as US senator from Illinois, he came up with one name "no one can assail": Oprah Winfrey. As the former governor's corruption trial dragged on today in Chicago, prosecutors played a tape from December 2008—after Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett...

Judge Bars Blagojevich From Tweeting in Court

But he can still talk to the press

(Newser) - Geez, now Rod Blagojevich is going to have sit still during his corruption trial. The judge today blocked his perfectly rational plan to issue live tweets from the courtroom, reports the Chicago Tribune . Judge Zagel didn't bar Blagojevich from making his many public statements before and after the proceedings, though...

Blago Defense Can't Subpoena Obama

Ex-governor's lawyers want president to testify in corruption trial

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich will not be permitted to subpoena President Obama as he defends himself against charges that he tried to sell or barter Obama's vacant Senate seat after the 2008 presidential election. The judge in the former governor's forthcoming corruption trial did leave to door open to calling the president...

Court Rejects Law Giving Berlusconi Immunity

Italian PM will have to stand trial for corruption

(Newser) - An Italian court struck down the law designed to protect Silvio Berlusconi from corruption charges, ruling that it would take a constitutional amendment, not a mere act of parliament, to save the Italian prime minister. Courts can now resume the two corruption trials against Berlusconi that have been on hold...

Berlusconi Uses Animal Farm Defense

Lawyers argue 'more equal' PM shouldn't be prosecuted

(Newser) - All Italians are equal but some are more equal than others, according to lawyers seeking to prevent Silvio Berlusconi from standing trial on corruption charges. A constitutional court examining the legitimacy of a law shielding prime ministers from prosecution—which was introduced by Berlusconi himself—was told the leader is...

My Client's Corrupt, But Who Isn't?
My Client's Corrupt, But
Who Isn't?
politics on trial

My Client's Corrupt, But Who Isn't?

All pols have bribes in the freezer, Jefferson's lawyer contends

(Newser) - Former Rep. William Jefferson’s lawyer tried a novel defense tactic in his closing arguments yesterday: putting all of the political class on trial. Sure, his client had stashed bribe money in his freezer—but hasn’t everyone, metaphorically speaking? “We all occupy the gray area,” said attorney...

Supreme Court Shoots Down Jefferson's Appeal

But will review Conrad Black's conviction

(Newser) - The Supreme Court today refused to hear William Jefferson’s appeal, meaning the former New Orleans congressman’s corruption case is headed for trial, the Times-Picayune reports. The court will, however, consider overturning the fraud conviction against former media mogul Conrad Black and two of his compatriots.

Blago Fails to Boot Federal Prosecutor

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich has failed to get Chicago's top federal prosecutor kicked off of his case, the Chicago Tribune reports. A judge ruled today that comments made by Patrick Fitzgerald—which Blagojevich called inflammatory—did not warrant removing him from the corruption case. Nor did Fitzgerald's release of wiretap transcripts that...

DOJ Pulls Prosecutors Off Stevens Case

Judge finds lawyers in contempt for withholding documents

(Newser) - The Justice Department has yanked the team that prosecuted Ted Stevens off any future action in the case, Politico reports, after the judge found four of the lawyers—including chief prosecutor Brenda Morris—in contempt. Morris and company raised the judge’s ire by withholding documents related to FBI agent...

FBI Agent Details Blago's Misdeeds in Trial's 2nd Day

Guv says he hasn't ruled out suing Senate

(Newser) - Prosecutors walked FBI agent Daniel Cain through the affidavit detailing wiretapped conversations of Rod Blagojevich in the second day of the Illinois Senate’s impeachment trial against the governor, the Chicago Tribune reports. Cain confirmed comments attributed to Blagojevich taken from wiretapped conversations, including the governor’s attempt to sell...

Agent, Witness in Stevens Case Had a Fling, Defense Says

Ted's team wants new trial over secret-sharing

(Newser) - Lawyers for former Sen. Ted Stevens say the head FBI agent in his corruption case got a little too cozy with a key witness against Stevens, Politico reports. The defense lawyers cite an FBI whistleblower's memo that “strongly suggests that the inappropriate relationship” between the agent and an oilman...

AWOL Stevens Juror Lied About Dad's Death

Woman goes free after trip to Calif. ends at racetrack, not funeral

(Newser) - The juror in the Ted Stevens trial who was excused to attend her father’s funeral actually skipped out to go to the track, the Anchorage Daily News reports. Marian Hinnant, who was replaced hours before the verdict, appeared before the judge today to explain her absence. She had plans...

'I Have Not Been Convicted of Anything': Stevens

Nonetheless, Alaska senators plans appeal of last week's verdict in DC

(Newser) - Ted Stevens said he had “not been convicted of anything,” during a debate last night with the Democratic challenger to his Alaska Senate seat, Politico reports—despite being convicted Monday on corruption charges. The 84-year old Republican alleges prosecutorial misconduct and plans an appeal, though top GOP figures—...

GOP Ticket Agrees: Stevens Must Go

Alaska governor stopped short on state's senior senator, now toes nominee's line

(Newser) - John McCain and Sarah Palin delivered Ted Stevens a synchronized shooing toward the Senate door today, Politico reports. McCain said  the 84-year-old Republican senator, convicted yesterday of corruption, “should now step down,” while Palin—who stopped short last night of urging her fellow Alaskan to resign—said today...

Jury Finds Stevens Guilty on All Counts
 Jury Finds Stevens 
 Guilty on All Counts 
updated

Jury Finds Stevens Guilty on All Counts

(Newser) - After 5 hours of deliberations, a federal jury found Ted Stevens guilty today on all seven corruption counts against him. Coming just before Election Day, the felony convictions cloud the political future of the 84-year-old Republican, who has represented Alaska in the Senate since 1968. As the foreman read the...

Stevens Jury to Start Over as Member Is Dismissed

Jury stars over as alternate joins panel

(Newser) - One of the jurors in the corruption trial of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has been dismissed, the Hill reports. In a hearing last night the judge released a woman who left Washington Friday following the death of her father, and has been unreachable since. He said he would replace her...

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