Christopher Kelly, a co-defendant and former top fundraiser for former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has died of salicylate intoxication.

Kelly pleaded guilty earlier this year to tax fraud charges in a 2007 case. He was sentenced to 37 months and scheduled to surrender in November, 2009. According to documents on PACER, the judge recommended in its sentencing order that he serve his sentence at Yankton, S.D. and that he be allowed to participate in a residential drug and alcohol program.

Kelly was charged in a wire fraud/money laundering case in early 2009. He pleaded guilty last week. The plea agreement (pdf) called for a 57 month sentence to run consecutive to the 37 month sentence. The judge either sentenced him immediately or denied him bond pending sentencing, as he was ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on Sept. 18, 2009. His bond conditions were also modified for the short period between his plea and September 18, 2009, to include a provision that he have no contact with three persons (unnamed in the order) and that he spend every night between midnight and 6:00 a.m. in his house. [More...]

Via the Washington Post, the House Judiciary Committee has released transcripts of Karl Rove and Harriet Miers' testimony and emails in its investigation into the firing of U.S. Attorneys.

You can access them here. Rep. John Conyers concludes: [More...]

William Jefferson (D-LA) was convicted by a jury today on 11 of 16 counts of an Indictment, including bribery, racketeering and money laundering. He was acquitted on five counts including wire fraud and obstruction of justice. The backstory:

The backstory: In 2007, Jefferson, was charged on 16 counts of bribery, racketeering, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The government alleged that Jefferson used his congressional office to help promote business projects in western Africa in return for payments for his family. The most vivid evidence put on display: that feds found in Jefferson’s freezer $90,000 stuffed in Boca Burger and pie-crust boxes.

Jefferson’s lawyer, Robert Trout argued at trial that Jefferson’s behavior was perhaps unethical and even stupid but not criminal. “To make something that isn’t criminal into a crime, ladies and gentleman, that is power,” Trout told jurors.

Over the objections of the prosecutor, Jefferson's bond was continued until sentencing. According to the prosecutor, Jefferson's sentencing guideline range could be more than 20 years.

Three New Jersey Mayors, two Assemblyman and five rabbis were arrested this week following a two year federal corruption and money laundering investigation.

A two-year corruption and international money-laundering investigation stretching from the Jersey Shore to Brooklyn to Israel and Switzerland culminated in charges against 44 people on Thursday, including three New Jersey mayors, two state assemblymen and five rabbis, the authorities said.

The Detroit corruption case that snagged Monica Conyers, wife of Rep. John Conyers, continues to grow. Political adviser Sam Riddle (well known in Colorado for his representation of the family of Isaiah Shoels, a student killed at Columbine) and his significant other, Mary Waters pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in federal court Thursday. The charges were expected and both have maintained their innocence, reportedly refusing to consider plea offers. Ms. Waters' attorney, Todd Flood, had a great line after court:

Asked how Waters is holding up, Flood replied, "She continues to inspire me."

Riddle said:

"I will not be a fall guy for the privileged or well-connected."

After his arraignment, he tweeted:

My arraignment in Fed Ct was intense-had to take deep breath to respond to judge. My lawyer David Stiengold w/30 years fed exp chills me out.”

Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris, has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of wire fraud. In exchange, he will cooperate against Blagojevich and Fitzgerald's office will recommend a sentence just under 3 years.

The plea deal was not unexpected. Harris' lawyer sayd he began cooperating almost immediately after indictment.

Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers, wife of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bribery, a felony, in connection with the Synagro bribery investigation.

Her lawyer, Steve Fishman, says her sentencing guidelines are likely to be 30 to 37 months. Her plea agreement did not refer to cooperation with the Government in exchange for a sentence reduction and states the parties do not agree on the amount of loss or restitution. The maximum sentence possible is 5 years. The Information and Plea Agreement are here (pdf).

Rep. Conyers' office issued this statement: [More...]

Reporter Murray Waas has a long and meaty article today on the Bush Justice Department and alleged improprieties in the criminal investigation of corruption allegations against former AZ Republican congressman Rick Renzi.

The alleged impropriety: Leaking a wiretap on Renzi. The reason, according to Waas:

In the fall of 2006, one day after the Justice Department granted permission to a U.S. attorney to place a wiretap on a Republican congressman suspected of corruption, existence of the investigation was leaked to the press — not only compromising the sensitive criminal probe but tipping the lawmaker off to the wiretap.

Career federal law enforcement officials who worked directly on a probe of former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) said they believe that word of the investigation was leaked by senior Bush administration political appointees in the Justice Department in an improper and perhaps illegal effort to affect the outcome of an election.

Renzi, who did not seek re-election in 2008, ultimately was indicted on "36 felony counts of money laundering, extortion, insurance fraud and various other alleged crimes" and is scheduled for trial in September. [More...]

His plea agreement did not call for cooperation against Blagojevich.

Kelly is not accused of any involvement in the burgeoning political corruption case that has resulted in Rezko's conviction for influence-peddling and charges against Blagojevich that include scheming to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama's election as president....His plea agreement did not call for cooperation on his part in the Blagojevich investigation -- something that might have gotten him a break.

Another nice job by Chicago criminal defense attorney (and TalkLeft pal) Mike Monico.

Two more Republican legislators are benefiting from Attorney General Eric Holder's commitment to fairness. A couple of months ago, Holder asked a federal court to dismiss the charges against Ted Stevens after Holder concluded that prosecutors withheld evidence that should have been disclosed to the defense before or during Stevens' trial. On Thursday, Holder announced that two Alaska state legislators convicted of public corruption were similarly victimized by federal prosecutors who failed to disclose exculpatory evidence.

The Justice Department asked the court of appeals to order Pete Kott and Vic Kohring released from prison pending a district court review of their convictions. Unless the withheld evidence clearly establishes the legislators' innocence, DOJ prosecutors probably won't ask the court to dismiss their indictments, as Holder did in Stevens' case. It's more likely the two men will be given a new (and hopefully fair) trial.

While Holder should be applauded for his vigilance in correcting the injustices that tainted the trials of Republicans in Alaska, the question remains: Why won't Holder take a hard look at DOJ's politically motivated prosecution of Don Siegelman?

When we last checked in with Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, he had just pleaded guilty to fraud relating to one of his investment schemes, probably hoping to keep those allegations out of his trial for making fraudulent campaign contributions.

It didn't make a difference. After less than a full day of deliberations, a Manhattan jury has convicted him of violating campaign finance laws by using straw donors to get around limits.

Hsu's defense argued he was framed by investors who cut deals with the government to avoid prosecution.

Updated news article here.

If anyone knows the paces of a q and a by prosecutors and/or a grand jury by now, it's Karl Rove, who with four such appearances under his belt, never got indicted in PlameGate.

Today's interview on the U.S. Attorneys' firing was probably a piece of cake for him. He and his very able lawyer, Bob Luskin, were seen laughing it up as they were about to enter the building.

I doubt after hours of being prepped by Luskin, there was any question Rove couldn't answer either ambiguously but truthfully or with a clever dodge. [More...]