Judge say he’ll rule Tuesday on Cellini retrial

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A federal judge says he’ll rule Tuesday on whether to order a do-over of what was supposed to be the last trial related to impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Judge James Zagel’s heard oral arguments Friday about whether a juror denied longtime Illinois powerbroker William Cellini a fair trial by lying about her criminal past.

Defense attorney Dan Webb said the lies created a built-in bias and it would be wrong to let a verdict stand.

But prosecutor Chris Niewoehner countered there’s no proof the juror altered the jury’s November verdict that Cellini conspired to extort a Hollywood producer.

He added there is a public interest in not dragging proceedings out so long after a jury rendered a verdict.

AP