Court reinstates license for lawyer in Blagojevich scandal

By: Associated Press//September 18, 2015//

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Madison (AP) — One of former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s aides who was convicted of corruption in Illinois has his Wisconsin law license back.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked Nicholas Hurtgen’s license in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to charges that he threatened to deny permission for a hospital expansion if a contractor now-former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich favored wasn’t hired.

The charges were dropped in 2012, however, after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the legal theory supporting them.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court reinstated Hurtgen’s license Friday, agreeing with a referee’s finding that Hurtgen has the character to practice law.

Hurtgen also arranged campaign events for former Gov. Jim Doyle in 2003 and helped Gov. Scott Walker raise campaign funds that year. Walker was Milwaukee County executive then.

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