Judge gives Blagojevich time to object to release of wiretaps
The prospect of a state gubernatorial impeachment committee getting U.S. government tapes of Rod Blagojevich any time soon grew dimmer Monday as a federal judge gave the Illinois governor and others two days to decide if they object to the release of the wiretapped phone conversations.
Given that the lawyer for one of the people caught on tape wouldn't even reveal his client's identity in court, it's likely that those who are the subjects of the recordings will object to the release, buying another likely delay of at least two weeks while the objections are argued.
"It has become clear with every day that passes (that) time is of the essence," attorney David Ellis, who represents the House committee considering impeachment, told Chief Judge James Holderman.
But Ellis also added that even if the tapes aren't produced in time for the Illinois House and its vote on impeachment, the tapes still could be used in an Illinois Senate trial if the House votes to impeach.
Appearing in court Monday was attorney Dan Reinberg, who represents John Johnston, the vice-president of Maywood Park racetrack and president of Balmoral Park racetrack. Reinberg said he hasn't yet seen the transcript of the tape made of his client, but presumes it to be a call between Johnston and track lobbyist Lon Monk, a former adviser to Blagojevich.
Reinberg said federal investigators told him Johnston was not a target of the investigation, and he described Johnston as "a bystander" to a solicitation for a campaign contribution described in the criminal complaint as involving "Contributor 1."
Holderman said the four tapes the government wants to release to the Illinois House impeachment committee all relate to Paragraph 68 of the Blagojevich criminal complaint. That section accuses Blagojevich of soliciting campaign donations in exchange for signing a bill beneficial to the racetrack community.
Attorney John Collins was also present in court Monday and identified himself as the lawyer for one of those people intercepted on government tapes. He asked Holderman to continue not to name his client.
By noon Tuesday, attorneys for those caught on tape will be given an unredacted recording and transcript of their client's communication and redacted recordings and transcripts of others caught on tape. They will have until Wednesday to file a statement indicating if they intend to object to the release of the recordings. The parties will then meet again on Thursday at 1 p.m. in court.
In other business, Holderman announced that he has given the government an extension to April 7 to indict Blagojevich. The deadline had been set for Wednesday, but Holderman cited the complexity of the case and the circumstances in permitting the delay.