Film producer takes stand in Cellini trial
The Oscar-winning producer of “Million Dollar Baby” has begun his testimony in the trial of a clout-heavy Illinois businessman accused of conspiring to extort him for a campaign contribution to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Thomas Rosenberg addressed jurors briefly Wednesday before court adjourned. Prosecutors didn’t ask him in front of jurors about allegations William Cellini planned to extort him for $1.5 million.
They’ll do that Thursday when Rosenberg takes the stand again.
But out of earshot of jurors, Rosenberg told U.S. District Judge James Zagel he’d regarded Cellini as a friend. And he said it never dawned on him Cellini himself was shaking him down.
Cellini denies that he and three others intended to squeeze Rosenberg by threatening to withhold $220 million in state pension money from his investment company.
Earlier Wednesday, a defense attorney asked for a mistrial after a judge wouldn’t let him ask the government’s star witness certain questions during cross-examination.
Attorney Dan Webb wanted to press a co-schemer in the alleged plot, Stuart Levine, about his testimony at a related 2008 trial. Webb says it was inconsistent with what he’s told jurors at Cellini’s trial.
When Zagel said he wouldn’t permit that line of questioning, Webb immediately asked for a mistrial.