A nearly $3 million fund Blagojevich drew on at his first trial to pay his team of more than a dozen attorneys has run dry. Now that taxpayers must foot the bill for Blagojevich’s defense, Zagel has said he will allow the impeached governor to have only two attorneys.
That, plus pressure on Blagojevich attorneys to represent clients in other cases, led to the decision to try and withdraw, Sorosky said. Adam’s father, Sam Adam Sr., and attorney Michael Gillespie also will ask to leave before the January retrial, though Gillespie could serve as a paralegal, Sorosky said.
Jurors in August convicted Blagojevich of lying to the FBI but were unable to agree on 23 other counts. Among the deadlocked counts he will be retried on is the accusation he tried to sell or trade the appointment to the US Senate seat President Obama held.
If the judge agrees to let the others go, that would leave Sorosky and Aaron Goldstein as the primary attorneys.
In yesterday’s filing, Adam Jr. and Adam Sr. said they could continue to advise Blagojevich and assist with trial strategy.
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