The look of innocence

Tom Cullerton’s lawyer appears to have deal with prosecutors over Coli evidence
The defense attorney previously asked a judge to intervene, calling ex-Teamster boss John Coli’s credibility “central” to Cullerton’s defense.

By Jon Seidel Jan 23, 2020, 10:22am CST


State Sen. Thomas E. Cullerton walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in August. Sun-Times file photo

State Sen. Thomas Cullerton’s lawyer is apparently finalizing a deal with federal prosecutors over key evidence in the indicted politician’s embezzlement case.

Cullerton’s attorney last month asked U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman to order prosecutors to disclose crucial details about ex-Teamsters boss John Coli, who pleaded guilty in July in an extortion case and agreed to cooperate with authorities. A grand jury hit Cullerton with an indictment a few days after Coli’s plea.

But at a hearing set Thursday to deal with the matter, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu told Gettleman the two sides were nearing a deal and asked for more time to complete it. Cullerton attorney Daniel Collins said, “It’s all correct judge.”

Gettleman told the two sides to come back March 24.

When he asked for the Coli evidence last month, Collins wrote that “information about Coli’s credibility is central to the validity of the government’s case against Cullerton and is vital for Cullerton’s defense.”