Advertisement

April 30, 2010 / 1:27 PM

Blagojevich aide pleads guilty -- again

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich talks to reporters in federal court after a hearing in his corruption trial in Chicago on April 21, 2010. Blagojevich and his attorneys are fighting for all 500 hours of FBI wire tap evidence to be shown to the jury while prosecuters seek to limit the evidence shown to jury members. UPI/Brian Kersey

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich talks to reporters in federal court after a hearing in his corruption trial in Chicago on April 21, 2010. Blagojevich and his attorneys are fighting for all 500 hours of FBI wire tap evidence to be shown to the jury while prosecuters seek to limit the evidence shown to jury members. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

CHICAGO, April 30 (UPI) -- A top aide to ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Friday pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges for the second time.

Alonzo "Lon" Monk, 51, admitted conspiring to solicit a campaign contribution from a businessman in the horse-racing industry in exchange for signed legislation.

Advertisement

Prosecutors sought a superceding indictment in the case, necessitating the court appearance, to forestall a possible future U.S. Supreme Court decision on the federal fraud statute dealing with "honest services," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Monk had pleaded guilty to similar charges in October and agreed to a two-year prison term.

Blagojevich is to go on trial June 3 on a variety of charges, including allegedly trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Monk has agreed to testify, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Blagojevich has subpoenaed Obama and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois' senior senator, for the trial.

Topics
Rod Blagojevich

Houston braces for more heavy rain as overflowing rivers force evacuations

U.S. News // 1 day ago

Houston braces for more heavy rain as overflowing rivers force evacuations

May 4 (UPI) -- The Houston area is facing more heavy rain over the weekend as the region struggles to cope with widespread and "historic" flooding that has triggered evacuation orders.

Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway posts record $189B in cash reserves

U.S. News // 17 hours ago

Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway posts record $189B in cash reserves

May 4 (UPI) -- Investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday reported first-quarter earnings of $11.2 billion and revealed it is now holding a record-high total $189 billion in cash reserves.

Biden administration expands Affordable Care Act to DACA recipients

U.S. News // 2 days ago

Biden administration expands Affordable Care Act to DACA recipients

May 3 (UPI) -- The Biden administration Friday expanded healthcare to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals migrants, removing a prohibition on Affordable Care Act eligibility, effective Nov. 1.

New York AG releases footage of deadly police shooting of man holding scissors

U.S. News // 19 hours ago

New York AG releases footage of deadly police shooting of man holding scissors

May 4 (UPI) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday released police body cam footage from the two officers involved in the shooting death of a Queens man on March 27. Each video runs for about 3 minutes.

Colo. organizers cancel Kristi Noem's GOP fundraiser due to 'death threats'

U.S. News // 21 hours ago

Colo. organizers cancel Kristi Noem's GOP fundraiser due to 'death threats'

May 4 (UPI) -- Local Republican Party officials in Colorado say they canceled a scheduled fundraiser for South Dakota governor and U.S. vice presidential hopeful Kristi Noem due to alleged death threats.

Russian crypto criminal pleads guilty to U.S. money laundering charges

U.S. News // 22 hours ago

Russian crypto criminal pleads guilty to U.S. money laundering charges

May 4 (UPI) -- High-profile Russian cryptocurrency player Alexander Vinnick has pleaded guilty to U.S. charges of conspiring to launder more than $9 billion as one of the operators of the BTC-e exchange.

Biden praises Presidential Medal of Freedom winners for promoting 'faith in better tomorrow'

U.S. News // 2 days ago

Biden praises Presidential Medal of Freedom winners for promoting 'faith in better tomorrow'

May 3 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest civilian award in the United States -- to a range of Americans including athletes, actors, politicians, advocates and an astronaut.

DOJ charges Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, wife in $600,000 bribery scheme

U.S. News // 1 day ago

DOJ charges Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, wife in $600,000 bribery scheme

May 3 (UPI) -- The Justice Department on Friday indicted Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and his wife on charges of conspiracy and accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities.

Trump hush-money trial: Former aide Hope Hicks testifies

U.S. News // 2 days ago

Trump hush-money trial: Former aide Hope Hicks testifies

May 3 (UPI) -- The third week of the hush-money trial of Donald Trump concluded Friday with testimony from former aide Hope Hicks.

Jeffrey Epstein's address book at auction includes entries for Donald Trump, RFK Jr., more

U.S. News // 1 day ago

Jeffrey Epstein's address book at auction includes entries for Donald Trump, RFK Jr., more

May 3 (UPI) -- Alexander Historical Auctions said Friday it will offer infamous financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's address book at auction.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement