Impeachment panel may get Blagojevich tapes this week

[babylonsister]

Impeachment panel may get Blagojevich tapes this week
4 secret recordings to be reviewed first by defense lawyers, judge rules

By Jeff Coen | Tribune reporter
January 6, 2009


A federal judge Monday set a short timetable for defense lawyers to review four secret recordings made in the federal investigation of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

U.S. District Chief Judge James Holderman directed prosecutors to release the recordings by noon Tuesday to attorneys for the four individuals secretly taped in the conversations.

Holderman indicated the tapes could be released to the Illinois House special investigative committee looking into impeaching Blagojevich as soon as Thursday if defense attorneys have no quarrel with them, but that prospect appears unlikely.

In an unusual move, federal prosecutors sought to release the recorded conversations after the House panel requested information that might help them decide the governor's political fate. Prosecutors have said the release of too many recordings could damage their ongoing investigation but offered to make available four calls in which Blagojevich allegedly sought campaign contributions for signing legislation that diverted casino funds to the state's horse racing industry.

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-tapes-06-jan06,0,1598403.story