New indictment has more Blagojevich counts

CHICAGO, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- A federal grand jury in Chicago Thursday issued a new indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, including eight new counts.

The "superseding" or replacement indictment takes the place of the previous indictment.

Blagojevich in December 2008 was arrested on federal corruption charges that included bribery and fraud, in particular an allegation he tried to trade his power to name a U.S. Senate replacement for President-elect Barack Obama for personal gain. His trial is set for next June.

The governor was subsequently impeached and removed from office by the Illinois Legislature.

The rearranged architecture in the superseding indictment includes new counts of racketeering, attempted extortion of an unnamed congressman and bribery. Conviction on several of the 24 counts would bring penalties of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both for each count.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald told the federal court the superseding indictment maintains all of the original charges against Blagojevich, while adding new ones.

Prosecutors said in December Blagojevich could be faced with a new indictment to avoid technical problems. Federal prosecutors said in a filing they would deal with the "honest services" fraud statute question that prompted an appeal in the new charges -- the issue of "intangible denial of honest services" fraud may be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court this term.

Some of the counts against Blagojevich would be dropped if the high court severely limited the use of the federal honest services statute.