Three more not guilty pleas in Blagojevich case
Two of the state's most high-profile political power brokers pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they aided Gov. Rod Blagojevich in an alleged corruption scheme.
Republican William Cellini, 74, of Springfield, and Democrat Christopher Kelly, 50 of Burr Ridge, appeared in court to answer to charges that they helped the Democratic governor in his alleged crimes.
"He hereby enters a plea of not guilty," attorney Dan Webb told Judge James Zagel on behalf of Cellini.
"Is that correct?" Zagel asked Cellini.
"Yes, your honor," answered Cellini, who is accused of aiding an extortion scheme to get movie producer and financial investor Thomas Rosenberg to donate to Blagojevich's campaign fund in exchange for getting state pension fund business.
Kelly is accused, among other things, of helping to direct the shakedown and, when it failed, agreeing with other Blagojevich aides never to give Rosenberg any state business after that.
Webb said after the hearing that Cellini doesn't even know Blagojevich and only met him once to shake his hand at a political function. He said prosecutors improperly rolled his client into the Blagojevich case.
"Joining Mr. Cellini in this Gov. Blagojevich allegations of corruptions is a gross violation of justice," said Webb, who is seeking to have Cellini case's severed from the Blagojevich trial.
Government prosecutors declined to comment.
Michael Monico, Kelly's lawyer, also declined to comment.
Another defendant in the case, Blagojevich's former chief of staff John Harris, is working on a plea deal with prosecutors, said his attorney, Terry Ekl. Ekl and prosecutors have already said publicly that Harris, 47 of Chicago, is cooperating in the investigation.
Webb also filed a motion under seal seeking to bar from trial the tape recordings of Cellini talking with another state power broker, Stuart Levine. Levine has pleaded guilty and testified against another Blagojevich adviser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko. He is expected to testify against Cellini as well.