By: E&P Staff A lawyer who represented Tribune Co. Chairman and CEO Sam Zell when he was interviewed by federal agents has told a bankruptcy court that neither Zell nor Tribune were the subjects of investigations of impeached Illinois Gov. Rob Blagojevich.
David J. Bradford, a partner at Jenner & Block, made the comment in a bankruptcy court hearing in Delaware Tuesday. Bradford's law firm also represented Zell's investment firm Equity Group Investments when it was subpoenaed in connection with the scandal.
Blagojevich, who has also been indicted on a charge he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama, is accused of extortion in connection with the proposed sale of Wrigley Field, owned, along with the Chicago Cubs, by Tribune. Blagojevich allegedly threatened to withhold state financing, which would have tax advantages for the debt-strapped media giant, unless certain members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board were fired.
None of the editorial writers were fired, and Tribune has said none of its employees acted improperly.
Zell, a potential witness in an eventual trial of Blagojevich, and other Tribune officials have declined to talk publicly about the scandal, but the Chicago Tribune had reported that Zell was interviewed by federal authorities in January.
In a filing with the bankruptcy court, Tribune also said it was planning to pay Zell's legal bill. The filing was first reported by Chicago Tribune reporters Todd Lighty and Julie Johnnson.
"As is customary, Tribune has certain obligations to pay for the legal fees of its officers in connection with company business," Tribune Co. said in a statement. "Tribune intends to honor those obligations to its chairman and CEO, Mr. Zell."
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