Power broker out as former gov. defendant

CHICAGO – A millionaire power broker who was to go to trial on corruption charges alongside ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich was dropped Monday from the list of defendants.

The decision to remove William Cellini leaves the former Illinois governor and his brother on the defendant list for the June trial. Robert Blago­jevich’s attorney, Michael Ettinger, said Monday he also planned to try to get his client dropped from the trial.

Rod Blagojevich is charged with trying to sell or trade President Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat for campaign money or a high-paying job for himself or his wife and an array of other offenses. He pleaded not guilty and said he did not commit any wrongdoing.

Judge James B. Zagel has scheduled the trial to start June 3, but Blagojevich’s lawyers are asking for a three-month delay. Zagel told the attorneys Monday that he wanted to keep the trial date but left the door open for a brief postponement if needed.

Zagel’s decision to drop Cellini from the trial was expected. Prosecutors requested it last week.

The judge did not drop charges against Cellini, a millionaire lobbyist-businessman from Springfield who for decades has been an influential behind the scenes figure in Illinois politics, largely on the Republican side.

Cellini remains charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion. He is accused of attempting to squeeze a sizable campaign contribution for Blagojevich out of Hollywood producer Thomas Rosenberg, who owned a money management company that was expecting to get a $220 million allocation from a state teachers pension fund.

Prosecutors could bring Cellini to trial after Blagojevich’s trial is finished.