Attorneys for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich are scheduled to be back in federal court today. It’s their first court appearance in front of the judge since the death of Blagojevich’s co-defendant, Chris Kelly.
Chris Kelly served as a top fundraiser for Blagojevich. He was facing prison time in two other criminal cases unrelated to Blagojevich’s corruption trial. Federal prosecutors were pressuring Kelly to flip on the former governor.
But police say the 51-year-old Kelly committed suicide more than a week ago from an overdose of pills, just before he was scheduled to report to prison.
Today, attorneys for Blagojevich are scheduled to gather once again on the 25th Floor of the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago. Previously, Judge James Zagel had told attorneys he wanted to discuss a questionnaire for prospective jurors at today’s hearing.
The trial is scheduled to begin in June.