* 11:56 am - The Democrats don’t catch a break after all…
The trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich will begin June 3, U.S. District Judge James Zagel decided Wednesday, turning down a request for a delay from Blagojevich’s attorneys.
Attorneys for Blagojevich had asked to push back his corruption trial to November.
More…
U.S. District Judge James Zagel said the trial should go forward as planned on June 3. He called a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision that could redefine a statute that some of Blagojevich’s charges are based on a “red herring.’’
“I don’t see any reason to continue this case,’’ Zagel said. “This is more than a year to acquaint yourselves with the evidence.’’
One can’t help but wonder if he filed the motion to gin up publicity for his TV show. Usually, I’d never assume something like that, but this is Rod Blagojevich, after all.
LIVE session coverage...
- Bill - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:05 am:
They will be ready. Bring it on Fitzie!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:09 am:
$!##@$!$%#@#!!!!!!!
Can they gag him during the trial like Hannibal Lecter?
- Sent from my iPhone - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:12 am:
Even though it’s not delayed I wonder how long the trial will last… If it’s long it can’t be good for anyone who had ever had their photo taken with him when it comes election time.
- regular democrat - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:16 am:
On an unrelated note-strong, strong rumor that Claypool is in as an independent against Berrios. Rich can you check with your vast network of sources?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:17 am:
RD, Sneed reported that the other day.
- ABCBoy - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:21 am:
Losing the delay motion isn’t the worst thing that could have happened for Illinios Democrats. I believe the original delay request was for 5 months–conveniently after the election.
The worst case scenario would have been if–somehow–the judge said “delay granted—but for 3 months, not 5″ thus putting the trial start date at September.
- regular democrat - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:23 am:
Word has it he is running for sure, not just thinking about it as Sneed reported. We shall see.
- Gregor - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:25 am:
This trial is like removing a band-aid; you want to do it quick and get it over with, not drag it out a long painful time.
- Joe - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:27 am:
I’ll bet Jay Hoffman had a little heartburn, after hearing this news. He is in very tough battle in his house seat.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:27 am:
Tee hee
Day after day the drip, drip of special deals, array of special people on display.
I hope the sickly smell of Illinois politics is available for all to see.
- (Formerly) Angry Republican - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:27 am:
Definition: TIRB - This Is Rod Blagojevich; acronym created by Rich Miller that refers to a self-agrandizing publicity seeker.
- ABCBoy - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 11:37 am:
===
This trial is like removing a band-aid; you want to do it quick and get it over with, not drag it out a long painful time.
===
Agreed, but I’m not sure if this is going to happen. First, it’s not in Blago’s nature to go quietly away into the night. He’ll want to drag out the trial. Second, another ruling the judge handed down was that Blago’s side will be allowed to “show all the tapes” of Blago–not just a narrow selection. This will add time to the trial.
To what degree is Blago’s attitude really “I’m innocent,” versus, “If I’m guilty then so are these other guys….” and then being determined to bring down a bunch of other folks with him?
- Stones - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 12:17 pm:
I say just get the trial out of the way. The sooner before the election takes place the better (for the D’s that is).
- OneMan - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 12:57 pm:
“red herring.’’
Isn’t that the fish that Joan Rivers ordered that Rod delivered cold?
- George - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 1:16 pm:
I don’t know…. months of media interviews by Blago talking about how Pat Quinn kicked him out of office might not be so bad for PQ.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 1:22 pm:
George, that’s a good point. If they’re smart, the Quinn people should be prepared to amplify on Blago’s antipathy to Quinn. Some times, you’re best defined by your enemies.
- Old Milwaukee - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 1:38 pm:
It used to be the Republicans that were delusional. Now it’s the Democrats. Somebody is seriously arguing the Rod trial could be good for Quinn? That’s spin.
- Pat - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 2:07 pm:
Can’t happen soon enough for me, I’m sick of seeing his doofess face on t.v.
- Joe from Joliet - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 2:22 pm:
I was hoping the trial would start the week after Labor Day. I had hoped a delay would give Rich a week to get us all worked up. Then the trial that lasts throughout the Fall campaign.
However, it now looks like Tirb should be safely convicted by Labor Day and free spend the Fall campaign verbally capet bombing everyone. That won’t be more interesting than the campaign, but riveting nonetheless.
- Stones - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 2:44 pm:
Old Milwaukee - My point is that we know the trial IS going to happen, is a delay until mid / late Nov best for the Democrats or is it better to get the bad news out early. Neither scenario is good but I would rather have this off the headlines come Oct / Nov.
- Cousin Ralph - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 3:44 pm:
Jay Hoffman is in big trouble. Why anyone thinks this will be good for the DEMs is crazy. Blago will draw this out, he will make statements that will be incindiary and people will debate whether it is truth or fiction. Blago will not want to leave anyone standing from his own party that he thinks betrayed him. It will also adversely effect the amount of funds DEMs can raise.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 4:42 pm:
What makes everyone think that Blagojevich will take the stand? This is the same guy who took a pass and avoided his impeachment trial Q & A, showing up only to do his “closing argument.
I do believe that the various witnesses that will be called will create a need for a case of “Tums” but Blagojevich, for all his blovating, will not take the stand. Let me be the first to predict this!
- Park - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 7:04 pm:
This is a gift for us come June. Not trying to hurry my life, I’ll enjoy the time in between, but June-July will be a lot of fun.
- 2bconfused - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 7:50 pm:
All the politicians that crossed Rod will be nervous if he has anything on them-he will bring down as many other politicians as he can-he wont go down quiet! So anyone who did ANYTHING wrong down there SHOULD be worried-especially with election in fall and Democrats worried-now more to worry about! Hope it goes fast and he gets a gag order-he can say and do anything on T.V. and radio right now, it will get worse as trial gets closer. He will bring dirt out on everyone-people need to keep focused and NOT believe ALL of it!
- Blinkey - Wednesday, Mar 17, 10 @ 9:05 pm:
Hey, I wonder if, in late November 2008, when Pat Fitzgerald finished interviewing then president elect Obama and future Chief of Staff Emanual reguarding the Blago criminal investigation, and personally determined they did nothing wrong, did they kick right into the US attorney job interview? Pat was the first one reappointed, and only repubican. Well if there was a conflict of interest the Chicago media would go right after pat and the FBI, right?
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 7:25 am:
Rod Blagojevich under oath in a federal courtroom is the only reality show I want to see. You could pay-per-view it and solve the state’s budget deficit.
For all the damage he could do, its the damage to himself that will keep him from ever doing it.
As for who it hurts, expect to hear a lot about all those Republican votes to put Rod in charge of billions worth of construction projects.
This is Rod Blagojevich we’re talking about. No one wins in the end.
- curious - Thursday, Mar 18, 10 @ 8:28 pm:
Will this ever end?