Judge grants request by 2 Blagojevich attorneys to step aside from upcoming retrial

Judge allows 2 Blagojevich attorneys to step aside

CHICAGO — A federal judge has granted a request by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s lead attorney to withdraw from his principal defense role in an upcoming retrial.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel said at a status hearing Friday that Sam Adam Jr. would technically remain a member of the defense team because he may have to be called in to help at some point.

But Zagel allowed Adam and his father, Sam Adam Sr., effectively to withdraw from the case as they had requested.

A legal fund Blagojevich drew on to pay a large legal defense team at the first trial is empty and he is now only allowed two attorneys and a paralegal because taxpayers must pay his legal bills.

Blagojevich’s lead attorneys will now be Aaron Goldstein and Sheldon Sorosky.