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USA v. Blagojevich et al

  1. December 13, 2011

    Tribune Ordered To Fork Over Notes On Cellini Juror

    A Chicago Tribune journalist must hand over notes from any interviews she had with a juror in the trial of political insider and real estate investor William Cellini about the juror's criminal history and answers during jury selection, an Illinois federal judge ruled Monday.

  2. December 07, 2011

    Blagojevich Gets 14 Years On Corruption Charges

    Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison Wednesday for pursuing extortion schemes and trying to sell President Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat, a punishment prosecutors said should serve as a strong warning against public corruption.

  3. December 06, 2011

    Blagojevich's Attys Push For 'Lowest Sentence Possible'

    Lawyers for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich made their final pleas for leniency Tuesday at their client's sentencing hearing, arguing his convictions on bribery and other corruption charges do not warrant the 15- to 20-year prison term prosecutors seek.

  4. December 02, 2011

    Blagojevich Loses Last-Minute Bids Ahead Of Sentencing

    A federal judge rejected former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's latest attempt to ditch his convictions on bribery and other corruption-related charges Friday, killing the bid mere days before the fallen politician is to be sentenced for orchestrating extortion schemes while in office.

  5. November 28, 2011

    Blagojevich Can't Play Wiretap Tapes At Sentencing

    An Illinois federal judge on Monday denied a request by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, convicted in June on corruption charges, to reference or play for the court portions of confidential wiretap recordings in connection with his upcoming sentencing.

  6. November 15, 2011

    Cellini Attys Demand New Trial Over Juror's Hidden Past

    Lawyers for Illinois political insider and real estate investor William Cellini demanded a new trial Monday evening, saying their client's recent convictions on extortion and bribery charges must be tossed because a juror concealed her criminal past from the court.

  7. November 01, 2011

    Cellini Convicted On Conspiracy, Bribery Charges

    A federal jury on Tuesday convicted political insider and real estate investment businessman William Cellini on two criminal counts, finding he conspired to shake down a Hollywood film producer for a campaign contribution for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

  8. October 25, 2011

    Cellini, US Make Last Arguments In Blagojevich Fraud Case

    Government prosecutors and the defense team for real estate investment businessman William Cellini sparred Tuesday over his alleged role in an extortion plot to benefit former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, making their final attempts to win the jury's favor in the case.

  9. October 21, 2011

    Cellini Won't Testify In Blagojevich Extortion Trial

    Businessman William Cellini will not testify in his own defense on charges that he participated in a plot to hold up a real estate investment allocation in exchange for campaign cash for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Cellini's lawyer said Friday.

  10. October 20, 2011

    Lobbyist Passed Blagojevich Extortion Message: Witness

    A movie producer testifying at the extortion trial of political insider William Cellini said Thursday that in 2004 the defendant told him his real estate investment firm would not receive a pension fund allocation unless he made a campaign donation to ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.