Springfield power broker pleads not guilty to charges

Illinois power broker William Cellini today pleaded not guilty to charges that he helped engineer the attempted extortion of an investment banker in an effort to extract campaign contributions for Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Cellini's lawyer, Dan Webb of Winston & Strawn, told U.S. District Judge James Zagel that Cellini was innocent of "each and every charge of the indictment."

Cellini is charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, and solicitation of bribes. He was placed under oath and affirmed to the judge that he was pleading not guilty.

U.S. assistant attorney Christopher Niewoehner told Zagel that the government may seek to have Webb disqualified from representing Cellini because a witness in the case is a former client of Winston & Strawn.

Outside of court, Webb would not say who the witness was, nor whether it might be Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has been represented in the past by Winston & Strawn and presumably still is. The governor's campaign spokesman could not immediately be reached for a comment.

But Niewoehner indicated the matter would probably be revealed soon in court filings because he felt the judge needed to be apprised of the issue even if prosecutors determine it's not a conflict of interest for Winston & Strawn.

"This is going to have to come to your attention one way or the other," Niewoehner said.

Cellini will post the title to his Springfield home to secure a $1 million bond. Despite that, Zagel still ordered his passport to be held by the government's pretrial service office in Springfield while the charges are pending.

Webb had asked that the passport not be taken and indicated that Cellini may ask to travel internationally because Cellini's daughter is currently living in Dubai and will be getting married soon.

Niewoehner argued successfully that the passport be seized because "in light of Mr. Cellini's wealth, ($1 million bond) is actually not that significant."

Cellini is accused of helping Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko and Blagojevich aide Chris Kelly try to extort money from Thomas Rosenberg, an investment banker who wanted to do business with the Illinois Teachers Retirement System. The government alleges Cellini alluded to Rosenberg that Rezko and Kelly would see to it that Rosenberg wouldn't get the deal unless he donated to Blagojevich.

Webb said Cellini, who is caught on tape in phone conversations with then-TRS board member Stuart Levine discussing the matter, was merely helping a friend, Rosenberg, navigate the halls of power in Springfield.

Rezko has already been convicted of other charges, but was acquitted of charges concerning the Rosenberg deal.