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Monk cross-examined in Blago trial
CHICAGO, (UPI) -- A former friend and aide to Rod Blagojevich was cross-examined Monday in the former Illinois governor's federal corruption trial.
Under questioning by defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. about whether they had done anything illegal while attending law school together in California, Alonzo "Lon" Monk acknowledged he and Blagojevich occasionally did drugs, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Turning to the issue of campaign fundraising in Illinois in 2008, Adam got Monk to acknowledge he told Blagojevich one thing and his client, racetrack owner John Johnston, another while trying to get Johnston to donate $100,000 in hopes Blagojevich would sign a bill favorable to the horse racing industry.
Prosecutors accuse Blagojevich of trying to extort money from Johnston, but under questioning by Adam, Monk said the governor never directly linked the two matters.
"Did you ever hear, ever ... did Rod ever tell you one time he wasn't signing the racetrack bill?" Adam asked.
"No," Monk replied.
The Chicago Tribune reported Adam asked Monk if he asked Blagojevich, in effect, whether he was "holding off on signing the bill to get a contribution?"
"I didn't think I needed to," Monk answered.
Monk was expected to return to the stand Tuesday.
In a related matter, a former prospective juror said those being considered as jurors discussed the trial's coverage despite the judge's order prohibiting it.
David Hallstrom of Evanston, who was dismissed from the jury list last week, told the Sun-Times one of the people in the room during the discussions of the case is seated on the jury.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel had told potential jurors they could no longer read, watch or listen to any news coverage of the case, but Hallstrom said some of them did.
"We weren't jurors yet, just a pool," Hallstrom, 50, told the Sun-Times.
He said the prospective jurors "were told not to follow news" and he didn't but "not everybody" listened to the judge's order.
CHICAGO, (UPI) -- A former friend and aide to Rod Blagojevich was cross-examined Monday in the former Illinois governor's federal corruption trial.
Under questioning by defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. about whether they had done anything illegal while attending law school together in California, Alonzo "Lon" Monk acknowledged he and Blagojevich occasionally did drugs, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Turning to the issue of campaign fundraising in Illinois in 2008, Adam got Monk to acknowledge he told Blagojevich one thing and his client, racetrack owner John Johnston, another while trying to get Johnston to donate $100,000 in hopes Blagojevich would sign a bill favorable to the horse racing industry.
Prosecutors accuse Blagojevich of trying to extort money from Johnston, but under questioning by Adam, Monk said the governor never directly linked the two matters.
"Did you ever hear, ever ... did Rod ever tell you one time he wasn't signing the racetrack bill?" Adam asked.
"No," Monk replied.
The Chicago Tribune reported Adam asked Monk if he asked Blagojevich, in effect, whether he was "holding off on signing the bill to get a contribution?"
"I didn't think I needed to," Monk answered.
Monk was expected to return to the stand Tuesday.
In a related matter, a former prospective juror said those being considered as jurors discussed the trial's coverage despite the judge's order prohibiting it.
David Hallstrom of Evanston, who was dismissed from the jury list last week, told the Sun-Times one of the people in the room during the discussions of the case is seated on the jury.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel had told potential jurors they could no longer read, watch or listen to any news coverage of the case, but Hallstrom said some of them did.
"We weren't jurors yet, just a pool," Hallstrom, 50, told the Sun-Times.
He said the prospective jurors "were told not to follow news" and he didn't but "not everybody" listened to the judge's order.
