Fitzgerald Asks for More Time to Indict Blagojevich
Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked a federal judge for more time to bring an indictment against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit fraud and solicitation of a bribe.
Fitzgerald cited the complexity of the case against the governor, a Democrat, and said the holiday season interrupted his presentation of evidence to a grand jury, preventing him from meeting a Jan. 7 deadline, according to papers filed today with U.S. District Judge James Holderman in Chicago.
"The investigation includes multiple defendants and potential defendants as well as thousands of intercepted phone calls," Fitzgerald told the court.
From CBS:
Fitzgerald Wants Extension For Blago Indictment
Blagojevich has been accused of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat for cash or a lucrative job. Some observers have suggested that Fitzgerald's case may not be as strong as one might think.
From the level of fervor here one would think Fitzgerald had enough evidence for a conviction without a trial, so this is perplexing news. If a prosecutor can get an indictment against a ham sandwich, what is Blagojevich?
Blagojevich may be guilty, but the lynch mob mentality is frightening.