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Any Lawyers Available to Help Defend Governor?
Produced by Rob Wildeboer on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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WBEZ/Rob Wildeboer |
An attorney for Illinois' disgraced and impeached Former Governor says he needs some help defending Rod Blagojevich from criminal charges.
Related: In the middle of a scrum
In his first court appearance since being arrested in December, Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to charges that he used his office to enrich himself and fatten his campaign fund.
BLAGOJEVICH: I'm glad this process has finally begun. It's the beginning of me being able to prove my innocence and clear my name and be vindicated of what are inaccurate allegations.
During the nine-minute hearing, Blagojevich's lawyer Sheldon Sorosky asked the judge for some time before proceeding with the case as he needs to put together a legal team.
Two high-profile attorneys in Chicago had signed on to the case but later quit, one because the former governor wouldn't listen to him, and the other because of a potential conflict of interest.
Right now, Sorosky is Blagojevich's only lawyer in a case which includes thousands of documents and recorded phone calls. Sorosky is also hoping to tap into the former governor's campaign fund so he can pay for a legal team. The federal judge hearing the case has given him a week.
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