Blago Jurors Have Settled on Only 2 Counts

Judge wants them to keep deliberating
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 12, 2010 12:27 PM CDT
Blago Jurors Have Settled on Only 2 Counts
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich left, and his wife, Patti, leave their home to appear in Federal Court in Chicago Thursday.   (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Rod Blagojevich jury continues to be stuck: On its 12th day of deliberations, jurors informed the judge that they've settled on only two counts (it's not clear which ones), remain deadlocked on 11 others, and haven't even begun deliberating the remaining 11 related to wire fraud charges. The judge is instructing them to try to tackle the wire fraud counts before they pack it in, reports the Chicago Tribune.

"We recognize that your stated inability to reach agreement on other counts may establish to your satisfaction that you will be similarly unable to reach unanimity on the wire fraud counts," he wrote. "Nonetheless, a deliberative decision on those counts should be made even if it is a decision that you can't reach agreement." Most of the wire fraud counts relate to charges that Blago essentially tried to sell Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat, notes the Tribune.
(More Blagojevich trial stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X