Juror removed in William Cellini trial

October 27, 2011 (CHICAGO) -- One of the jurors in the trial of political powerbroker William Cellini has been removed.

Judge James Zagel says the juror has a conflict of interest but isn't elaborating until after a verdict is reached in the case. That means an alternate now joins the jury in its second day of deliberations.

Cellini, 76, is charged with conspiring to shake down an Oscar-winning producer for more than a $1 million in campaign contributions for former governor Rod Blagojevich.

Cellini's defense says he didn't know anything about the alleged shakedown, but prosecutors said he orchestrated it.

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