Prosecution Gets 3 More Months to Indict Blago

By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 5, 2009 12:40 PM CST
Prosecution Gets 3 More Months to Indict Blago
The Illinois House of Representatives committee looking into the impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.   (AP Photo)

A federal judge in Chicago today granted prosecutors an additional 3 months to present evidence and obtain an indictment in the corruption case against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Chief Judge James Holderman said the case against Blagojevich is too complex to expect prosecutors to obtain an indictment by a Jan. 7 deadline. He set an April 7 deadline instead.  

The judge said that "the ends of justice served by the extension" outweigh public interest and the defendants' rights to a speedy trial. Blagojevich and his former chief of staff are charged with offenses, including plotting to sell or trade the US Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama. (More Rod Blagojevich stories.)

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