New indictment, no new wrong doing for Rod Blagojevich

By Benjamin Yount 217-528-9844

CHICAGO – Rod Blagojevich is facing a handful of new charges, but no new accusations of wrong doing in the latest indictment from federal prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago filed a new indictment in the case against the impeached former Illinois governor.

Blagojevich is now facing eight new charges that allege extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to commit bribery. The charges stem from either Blagojevich’s attempts to fill President Obama’s Senate seat or the accusations that he tried to shake down a children’s hospital for a campaign donation.

Federal prosecutors sought the new indictment to avoid any problems with the “honest service” statute that is under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court has indicated it may strike down that law. Pieces of the original case against Blagojevich relied on alleged violations of the honest service guidelines.

The former governor is scheduled go on trial this summer. He has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the last batch for charges from the U.S. Attorney’s office. There’s no word when Blagojevich will have to answer these new charges.