 "He's a wonderful man, I'm very, very fond of him," Samuel E. Adam
said, referring to the impeached former governor now accused of
racketeering and fraud. Adam and his father, legendary Chicago
criminal defense attorney Sam Adam, said they were involved in talks
that could make them part of the Blagojevich team.Blagojevich has
pleaded not guilty to charges that he schemed to sell or trade
President Obama's U.S. Senate seat and used the muscle of the
governor's office to pressure companies with state business to make
campaign contributions.
There has been speculation for months that the Adams would become
part of Blagojevich's defense team -- which so far hasn't taken
shape, even though the ousted governor was arrested in December and
indicted early last month.
Although the younger Adam represented Blagojevich during his
impeachment proceedings, Monday was the first time the two Adams
appeared at a Blagojevich federal court hearing. They even sat among
the spectators, declining to come forward and make a firm commitment
when the case was called.
They said they had to talk first with Sheldon Sorosky, a
Blagojevich friend who thus far is the only lawyer committed to
representing the former governor.
Samuel E. Adam, known widely as "Sam Jr.," attracted the
spotlight at the Kelly trial with an emotional closing argument
during which he yelled, whispered, laughed and pounded on the jury
box. Kelly was acquitted of all charges.
Sorosky has been saying a lack of money has been a problem in
getting lawyers to join the team. But Sam Jr. scoffed at that
notion.
"I'd be thrilled to be in the case," he told reporters.
"I just want enough to buy my dad a new suit of clothes," he
cracked as his father stood nearby in his familiar rumpled state.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Sorosky will be allowed to
tap the $2.3 million Friends of Rod Blagojevich campaign fund to pay
legal expenses. But lawyers may bill no more than the maximum
allowed for government-appointed attorneys -- $110 an hour, far
below the amount that top-flight criminal defense lawyers usually
get. Such big-name attorneys often charge flat fees, but when
computed as hourly rates they can range up to $700 or more.
Sorosky says Blagojevich doesn't have the money to pay lawyers
other than by using the fund.
[to top of second column] |
As part of the deal, U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel on Monday
limited Blagojevich to three attorneys at his trial, plus a number
of contract lawyers who would probably get less money to help wade
through 3 million documents and 500 hours of FBI wiretaps.
Sorosky asked if Zagel would consider increasing the number of
trial attorneys to four. Zagel said he might allow a fourth attorney
if that person was needed to supervise the contract attorneys.
The question of which attorneys will represent Blagojevich is
serious enough that prosecutors asked Zagel to schedule a special
hearing June 1, at which time the former governor is expected to be
questioned about the subject.
Zagel has previously questioned whether Blagojevich is focused
enough on the case, given the seriousness of the charges that could
send him to prison for years.
One of Chicago's top defense attorneys, Edward M. Genson, had
been Blagojevich's lawyer but resigned from the case and implied
that the ousted governor wouldn't listen to his advice. That seemed
to coincide with the development of a warm relationship between
Blagojevich and Sam Sr. The elder Adam had been close friends with
Genson for 40 years.
While Sam Jr. got the lion's share of publicity in the Kelly
case, Genson was generally regarded as the true mastermind of the
defense that led to the acquittal.
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
|
