Zagel’s big decision
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller * This is, almost without a doubt, the most important ruling that Judge Zagel will make in Bill Cellini’s upcoming trial…
Tony Rezko’s attorneys were able to bring up much (but not all) of Levine’s past, which included seemingly constant cocaine use and drug-filled parties with young men in the Chicago area and, on at least one occasion, Springfield. Rezko’s defense was, essentially, that Levine had made the whole thing up. There was no attempt to shake down investor Thomas Rosenberg for a $1.5 million campaign contribution because the plan never existed, except in Levine’s drug-addled mind. The jury agreed. Rezko was acquitted of these Levine-related charges. Judge Zagel disallowed this particular line of questioning in the Blagojevich trial, but Levine was never called to the stand. The alleged shakedown attempt wasn’t part of that trial. * If the proseuction wins on this point, Levine’s testimony will be almost golden. If Cellini’s lawyers win the round, then Levine will once again be forced to reveal his lurid past and the prosecution will be at a distinct disadvantage. Keep in mind that the prosecution’s entire case against Cellini is built on this alleged shakedown attempt and that Rosenburg has already testified that Cellini never asked him for a dime. If the shakedown scheme is seriously undermined once again, then Cellini may have a decent chance at winning here. The rest of the Cellini legend will be a factor, of course, but the centrality of the case is this alleged shakedown, which was already found once to be a fantasy. * Read the prosecution’s filing by clicking here.
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