Results tagged “theblagotapes”

• Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg was completely evacuated this afternoon after a citizen reported seeing a man with a gun. After a subsequent search by police turned up nothing, the mall was reopened.
• A federal judge sentenced Paul Schiro to 20 years today. Schiro is the first defendant from the Family Secrets trials to be sentenced. While the jury had only convicted Schiro of racketeering, his sentence was longer because, according to the Sun-Times, "U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel found that the prosecution had proven by a preponderance of evidence that Schiro had helped kill [Emil] Vaci."
• Box maker Smurfit-Stone, who has a headquarters located here, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Such a filing would allow them to restructure their debt.

Image of House Impeachment Committee AP Photo/Seth Perlman

We're mesmerized by the "debate" happening in the state house right now - watch it for yourself here. One of the congressmen noted that today is Nixon's birthday and several others have compared Blago to Tricky Dick. All it takes is 60 votes of "yes" to impeach the governor and send the case to the Senate. It's going to be a long day, so let's do this quick hits style.

• The AP has a nice, simple run-down that amounts to "The Dummie's Guide to the Blagojevich Charges."
• Blago Attorney Ed Genson is trying to get U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald removed from the case, quoting Fitzy's emotional response at the press conference on Dec. 9 as proof that he's unfit to try the case. But as attorney Patrick Cotter told the Trib, "What, they want a prosecutor who thinks their client isn't guilty?"
• In spite of the request by the committee that recommended impeachment, no one will be hearing those Blago tapes anytime soon. Blago's attorney's have successfully gained more time to look into the matter and an official decision has been put off until January 23.

Blagojevitch lawyers Sam Adams, Jr. (left) and Ed Genson (right) confer while facing the state's impeachment committee. AP Photo/Seth Perlman