The ex-Gov is getting quite a deal on the legal fees considering how expensive they are these days.
By Mike Robinson
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers have reluctantly agreed to be paid far below the rate some of them usually charge in return for being allowed to tap his $2.3 million campaign fund.
In court papers filed Friday morning, the lawyers accepted the rate of $110 an hour, which is the legal limit court-appointed lawyers can charge in federal cases. Big-name criminal defense attorneys often work on a flat-fee basis but when computed as hourly rates, their charges can range up to $700 and beyond.
The debate over fees between prosecutors and the Blagojevich defense team headed by attorney Sheldon Sorosky has been dominating developments in the case for weeks.
Blagojevich is charged with scheming to sell or trade President Obama’s U.S. Senate seat and use the muscle of the Illinois governor’s office to squeeze companies with state business for campaign contributions. He has pleaded not guilty.
