CHICAGO (AP) — Lawyers for ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have asked a federal judge to throw out corruption charges against him, saying they violate his freedom of speech.
Blagojevich’s lawyers filed the motion Tuesday only hours before the expected start of opening statements in his corruption trial.
Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat and pressure people for campaign contributions.
The attorneys also filed a motion seeking permission to question one of the prosecution’s key witnesses, Stuart Levine, about matters the judge has ruled out of bounds. They also want the judge to toss out a count that claims Blagojevich made false statements to federal agents.
