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Jurors hit impasse in Blagojevich case

file photo: UPI/Bill Greenblatt

By Robert Wildeboer, WBEZ

Chicago – Attorneys for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his brother Robert are hoping to get some clarification on a note jurors sent to the judge Wednesday.

In the note, jurors told Judge James Zagel that they were having trouble reaching unanimous decisions on counts.

Zagel told the attorneys that he would ask the jurors to clarify which counts they're undecided on.

He will also tell the jury that they can return verdicts on just some of the counts, the ones that they do agree on.

Robert Blagojevich said he didn't know what to make of the note.

"I have a very bad crystal ball," Blagojevich said.

His attorney Michael Ettinger was more hopeful.

"I assume they're hung on my client but I don't know," Ettinger said.

Attorneys return to court Thursday morning.

There are 24 counts against Rod Blagojevich and 4 against his brother.

If jurors are deadlocked on some of the counts, prosecutors have the option of going to trial again.

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