Judge: Blagojevich might get 2 lawyers for retrial

CHICAGO (AP) — The judge who presided over the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich says he probably won’t allow the former governor to have more than two taxpayer-funded lawyers when the case is retried.

Judge James Zagel said Thursday he would be open to allowing more attorneys if they volunteered their time, or to allowing attorneys paid for by a benefactor.

Blagojevich says he’s broke after his campaign fund was depleted to pay attorneys in his first trial.

The jury in that trial deadlocked last week on 23 of 24 counts against the former governor.

Prosecutors say they intend to retry Blagojevich on charges that included allegedly scheming to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat. He denies wrongdoing.