CHICAGO — Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 16 charges of criminal corruption, including racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud. His brother, Robert, a fundraiser for his campaigns, pleaded not guilty to similar charges.
The former governor remained free on bond after the 10-minute hearing in which his lawyer Sheldon Sorosky did most of the talking for him.
“Mr. Rod Blagojevich would waive reading of the indictment and enter a plea of not guilty,” the lawyer said.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel asked the former governor a series of questions, including one about his schooling.
“Um, I have a degree from law school,” Blagojevich replied.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar told the judge the government will turn over a preliminary amount of discovery material for the trial within two weeks.
“It is a large volume of documents, as well as recordings,” Schar said.
Sorosky told Zagel that Blagojevich soon will make a request to enlarge his bond. After the hearing, he said Blagojevich was thinking of taking a trip out of the country, but Sorosky did not disclose a location.
Sorosky also told Zagel that the defense needs access to Blagojevich campaign funds, which total more than $2 million, to be able to adequately defend the case. He asked to reappear before Zagel in a week to update that situation.
Blagojevich is charged with essentially running state government as a criminal enterprise, scheming to use his position to make money for him and a close group of insiders. Three others — Springfield power broker William Cellini, former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris and top Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly — are set to be arraigned Thursday.
Harris is cooperating with federal authorities, as is another former chief of staff, Lon Monk, who is expected to be arraigned April 24.
