Judge refuses to delay Blagojevich retrial

[April 15, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge has denied a request from former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attorneys to delay his corruption retrial by several weeks.

Judge James Zagel told attorneys at a hearing Thursday that he believes they have had plenty of time to prepare. Zagel says the retrial should be less complex and that too should have made it easier for defense attorneys to prepare.

The hearing in Chicago comes less than a week before the impeached governor's second corruption trial is set to begin.

It also comes a day after Blagojevich seemed to throw down the gauntlet by accusing prosecutors of pretrial maneuvering to prevent his lawyers from proving his innocence.

Blagojevich faces 20 charges, including that he sought to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

[Associated Press]

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