The Blago Tapes Get Release Date

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 5, 2009 10:40PM

U.S. District Judge James Holderman, who earlier today gave U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald a deadline extension for seeking an indictment against Gov. Blagojevich, has now set the stage for the release to lawyers of the sought-after tapes of some of Blago's tapped phone conversations.

Chief U.S. District Judge James Holderman gave defense lawyers until 5 p.m. Wednesday to say whether they approve of redactions in the conversations recommended by prosecutors. He set a Thursday hearing to discuss whether they can be released in the interest of time for the house impeachment panel.

The disclosure comes after prosecutors requested the release of four conversations to the House panel. Prosecutors said they believed the release of the selected conversations will not impede their investigation. They said they will hand them over by noon Tuesday.

The excerpts deal with Blagojevich’s alleged efforts to secure campaign payments from a contributor — harness racing businessman Johnny Johnston -- in exchange for signing a bill that directed casino revenue to horse racing.

Johnston's lawyer, Daniel Reinberg, said his client was captured on tape but he was told he is not a subject or target of the investigation.