Another key member of Rod Blagojevich‘s legal team has suggested he too may be out of the picture for a retrial. Asked Friday by the Chicago News Cooperative about whether he wanted to stay aboard, lawyer Sheldon Sorosky replied, “I’m neutral.”
He said that it was ultimately up to Judge James Zagel whether or not any of Blagojevich’s lawyers could leave the case, noting that a new legal team could argue that they would need 18 months to get up to speed.
A defense attorney with knowledge of the case told the CNC this week that Blagojevich’s other principle attorneys, Sam Adam Jr. and Sam Adam Sr., have decided they want to leave the case.
Speaking about Adam Jr., Sorosky said: “The mere fact that he does not want to do it again is not going to be the controlling factor.”
Although he left open some wiggle room, Sorosky suggested that he may not be the right person for the job anymore. Adam Jr. echoed a similar sentiment after the verdict was handed down.
“I think that argument applies to any lawyer in that position,” Sorosky said. He would not commit to being present next week for a hearing in Zagel’s courtroom about a retrial, but added that he expected at least some of the current Blagojevich legal team to be present.
He said he has not spoken to former governor about his legal strategy since the verdict.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh my god, we got to do this now,’” Sorosky said. “We got to let the dust settle.”
As far as Sorosky knows, Blagojevich has not sought any legal counsel from his attorneys regarding interviews and media appearances. Blagojevich was interviewed Friday morning on the “Today Show” and is scheduled to appear on “Fox News Sunday” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” Monday.
“We haven’t given him any advice,” Sorosky said.