Judge drops 3 of 23 charges against Blagojevich

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has dropped three of 23 corruption charges against ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Prosecutors requested the move in hopes of simplifying their case after jurors in Blagojevich’s first trial said the original two dozen counts were confusing. Prosecutors say accusations contained in the dropped counts are duplicated elsewhere in the case.

Defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky said today he had no objections to the request.

The 54-year-old Blagojevich faces an April retrial on charges he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat and trying to shake down donors for campaign cash. Blagojevich still face years in prison if convicted on the remaining charges.

Jurors deadlocked on all but one count of lying to the FBI in his first trial.