US atty. plans ‘significant’ Chicago court filing

Federal prosecutors said they planned to take action on a “significant criminal matter” on Thursday as they worked to meet a court-imposed deadline for the political corruption indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

While prosecutors went about their work, the impeached and ousted governor was apparently vacationing at a Disney World resort in Florida.

U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald has until Tuesday to produce an indictment replacing a criminal complaint filed against the former governor Dec. 9 after FBI agents arrested him at his Chicago home.

Blagojevich, 52, was charged in the complaint with scheming to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat and a host of other corruption. He denies wrongdoing.

Fitzgerald’s office did not specify which case the pending court filing pertained to, but Chicagoans have been anticipating Blagojevich’s indictment for days.

Former federal prosecutor Patrick M. Collins unveiled recommendations from a state reform commission launched in response to the scandal.