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Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Corruption

Dec. 7, 2011 1:41pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Corruption

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich departs his home in Chicago, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, for the second day of his sentencing hearing on 18 corruption counts, including trying to to auction off President Barack Obama's old Senate seat. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) — Rod Blagojevich, the ousted Illinois governor whose three-year battle against criminal charges became a national spectacle, was sentenced to 14 years in prison Wednesday, one of the stiffest penalties imposed for corruption in a state with a history of crooked politics.

Among his 18 convictions is the explosive charge that he tried to leverage his power to appoint someone to President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat in exchange for campaign cash or land a high-paying job.

Judge James Zagel gave Blagojevich some credit for taking responsibility for his actions – which the former governor did in an address to the court earlier in the day – but said that didn’t mitigate his crimes. Zagel also said Blagojevich did some good things for people as governor, but was more concerned about using his powers for himself.

“When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired,” Zagel said.

As the judge announced the sentence, Blagojevich hunched forward and his face appeared frozen. Minutes later, his wife, Patti Blagojevich, stood up and fell into her husband’s arms. He pulled back to brush tears off her cheek and then rubbed her shoulders.

The twice-elected Democrat is now the second former Illinois governor in a row to be sentenced to prison, and the fourth Illinois governor in the last four decades. His Republican predecessor, George Ryan, currently is serving a sentence of 6 1/2 years, also for corruption.

Blagojevich, in a last plea for mercy, tried something he never had before: an apology. After years of insisting he was innocent, he told the judge he’d made “terrible mistakes” and acknowledged that he broke the law.

“I’m here convicted of crimes … ,” Blagojevich said, “and I am accepting of it, I acknowledge it and I of course am unbelievably sorry for it.”

According to the New York Times, he blamed his own “stupidity.”

“I have nobody to blame but myself for my stupidity and actions, words, things that I did, that I thought I could do,” he said.

But Zagel gave him little leeway, telling him that he gave him credit for taking responsibility but that his apology didn’t mitigate his crimes.

“Whatever good things you did for people as governor, and you did some, I am more concerned with the occasions when you wanted to use your powers … to do things that were only good for yourself,” he said.

Zagel said he did not believe Blagojevich’s contention, as his lawyers wrote in briefings, that his comments about the corruption schemes were simply “musings.” But Zagel said the jury concluded and he agreed that Blagojevich was engaged in actual schemes, and the undeniable leader of those schemes.

“The governor was not marched along this criminal path by his staff,” Zagel said. “He marched them.”

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 15 to 20 years, which Blagojevich’s attorneys said was too harsh. The defense also presented heartfelt appeals from Blagojevich’s family, including letters from his wife and one of his two daughters that pleaded for mercy.

But the judge made it clear early in the hearing that he believed that Blagojevich had lied on the witness stand when he tried to explain his scheming for the Senate seat, and he did not believe defense suggestions that the former governor was duped by his advisers.

The 54-year-old was ordered to begin serving his sentence on Feb. 16. In white-collar cases, convicted felons are usually given at least a few weeks to report to prison while federal authorities select a suitable facility. Blagojevich is expected to appeal his conviction, but it is unlikely to affect when he reports to prison.

Most of the prisons where Blagojevich could end up are outside Illinois. One is in Terre Haute, Ind., where Ryan is serving his own sentence. In prison, he’ll largely be cut off from the outside world. Visits by family are strictly limited, Blagojevich will have to share a cell with other inmates and he must work an eight-hour-a-day menial job – possibly scrubbing toilets or mopping floors – at just 12 cents an hour.

According to federal rules, felons must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence a judge imposes – meaning Blagojevich wouldn’t be eligible for early release until he serves nearly 12 years.

Going into the sentencing, many legal experts said the governor – who became a national punch line while doing several reality TV appearances while his legal case unfolded – was likely to get around 10 years. A former Blagojevich fundraiser, Tony Rezko, recently was sentenced to 10 1/2 years, minus time served.

Prosecutors have said Blagojevich misused the power of his office “from the very moment he became governor.” He was initially elected in 2002 on a platform of cleaning up Illinois politics in the midst of federal investigations that led to the prosecution and conviction of Ryan.

Defense attorneys have said Blagojevich has already paid a price in public ridicule and financial ruin, and proposed a term of just a few years.

Blagojevich’s sentencing came just days before his 55th birthday on Saturday, and nearly three years to the day of his arrest at dawn on Dec. 9, 2008, when the startled governor asked one federal agent, “Is this a joke?” In a state where corruption has been commonplace, images of Blagojevich being led away in handcuffs still came as a shock.

It took two trials for prosecutors to snare Blagojevich. His first ended deadlocked with jurors agreeing on just one of 24 counts – that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors at his retrial convicted him on 17 of 20 counts, including bribery and attempted extortion.

FBI wiretap evidence proved decisive. In the most notorious recording, Blagojevich is heard crowing that his chance to name someone to Obama’s seat was “f—ing golden” and he wouldn’t let it go “for f—ing nothing.”

Blagojevich clearly dreaded the idea of prison time. Asked in an interview before his retrial about whether he dwelled on that prospect, he answered: “No. I don’t let myself go there.”

In the same interview, Blagojevich also explained that the family dog Skittles was bought after his arrest in to help his school-age daughters, Amy and Annie, cope with the stress of his legal troubles. He said he joked with them that, “If the worst happens (and I go to prison), you can get another dog and call him `Daddy.’”

This post has been updated since it was first published.

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Comments (172)

Atrocities
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:33pm
Wrong guy is going to jail. Should be Obama and Jessie Jackson Jr.

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- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:42pm
  Isn’t it interesting that another of Obama’s roach offspring turns out to be corrupt, but Obama himself is of course, clean as a whistle. Yea, right!
  
  Report this comment
- teamarcheson
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:44pm
  He is headed to the Illinois State Prison black rape machine. The lifers are casting lots to see who get him for their belly warmer.
  
  Report this comment
- smithclar3nc3
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:45pm
  The state should now cease any and all of his assets to help cover the tax payers for the cost of trialing this guy. After all he admitted to everything after his conviction. He knew he did it and lied costing the tax payers millions in court cost.
  
  Report this comment
- Pontiac
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:48pm
  Mark my words, he will only serve 1 year. After a huge donation and a promise to keep silent about other corrupt activities by Chicago democrats, Obama will have a pardon waiting for him after the next presidential elections…
  
  Report this comment
- Harry Assenback
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:55pm
  Blago needs to share a cell with Sandusky……….Nice haircut Sluggo!
  
  Report this comment
- dejon
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:58pm
  the boy in the White House will pardon him soon
  
  Report this comment
- Continental Patriot
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:59pm
  Pontiac, your comment may prove frighteningly prophetic. There will be a wide-open opportunity for Obama to do so when he is either thrown out of office or at the end of his (God forbid) second term…
  
  Report this comment
- stheide1
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:05pm
  I would have to agree with you Pontiac. I was not thinking about that. He (Obama) will pardon both Blago and Razko. That really stinks.
  
  Report this comment
- Miguelito
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:06pm
  We need to get these corrupt people out of our government, I mean Dems and Repubs. They are stealing from the American people. God have mercy on their souls.
  
  Report this comment
- mad_hatter
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:07pm
  he’s corrupt and should go to jail… so should our President,
  
  *** BREAKING NEWS ***
  
  Have you seen the headlines, Obama cancelled his vacation to Hawaii after Romney’s attack on him, golf, and long vacation. ( http://tiny.cc/tvcq6 )
  
  Report this comment
- SoulReaver
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:30pm
  true they are so dirty that Rezko and blago tried to subpoena obummer and were denied.
  
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- sawbuck
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:30pm
  If he was a DC politician, he would have been re-elected and might have had a bridge named after him.
  
  Report this comment
- jeann
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:07pm
  I’m with you on this one…the corruption is almost sickening to me…..
  
  Report this comment
- Ruler4You
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:12pm
  While I believe they should all go to jail, Blago is going to, in all likelihood, be playing tennis at some plush resort prison in order to protect his virginity. One more benefit to being a corrupt politician.
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:22pm
  That’s F’ing golden, rot in jail Blago! LOL
  
  Report this comment
- smackdown33
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:29pm
  Hope that he now feels free enough to rat out shyster, Rahm Emanuel.
  
  Report this comment
- Whistleblower
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:37pm
  Ode to Poor Blago
  
  http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2011/12/07/ode-to-poor-blago/
  
  Report this comment
- barnsy
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:16pm
  At least the good people of Chicago learn from their mistakes.They showed their disdain for this kind of corruption by electing Rahm Emanuel mayor….LOL.
  
  Report this comment
- USAMEDIC3008
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:23pm
  This could make him the longest
  serving Governor …
  
  Report this comment
- LibsFIB
  Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:07pm
  Obama is going to run out of fall guys until one day all the kings men, and all the kings horses won’t be able to put Humpty back together again. Got to love the Liberal Media for propping him up on that wall; doing his everbody loves me dance on the fence. RON PAUL for Resuscitation of the US Constitution in 2012!!!!
  
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NHABE64
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:26pm
Blago is but another friend of obama who got caught. Thief, liar, corrupt politician, I mean this guy must rate high on obama’s list of pals. Thank God there are still judges who can not be bought and just did what had to be done for the good of our country. This guy was a bum, a cockroach who deserves that much time aned more. How dare this arrogant cockroach boast and act like he was invincible. Enjoy the alternate sex styles in prison blago…

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- bernbart
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:20pm
  He is not a friend of Obama and never has been. In fact he is not a friend of many Democrats in Chicago. Or and don’t forget the republican who held this office before Blago also went to jail.
  
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- snoozinglion
  Posted on December 8, 2011 at 4:35am
  Read this article that explains everything about Rezko, Blago and Obama…
  
  http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2007/Mr-Inside-Out/
  
  Report this comment
kentuckypatriot
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:25pm
One Chicago thug down, many more to go. I wonder if the same judge would preside over Holder, Obummer, Geitner, etc

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- smithclar3nc3
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:41pm
  Please like Obama won’t be giving Blago a pardon really soon.
  
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- jeann
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:11pm
  could we ever be so lucky to see the rest of these corrupt idiots go down with Balgo…we can’t even see that they stop the insider trading…how do we ever get to the core of this…it’s beyond me. there’s no stopping them at this point that I can see….most of capital hill has lost it’s soul.
  
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kindling
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:21pm
WOO HOO, Its about stinking time ONE of these thugs criminals got justice. Now go after HOLDER< OBAMA, FRANK, RAINS, PELOSI, I could go no all morning with names of criminals that are ripping us off.

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- STS2_SS_Iver
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:27pm
  The last three Massachusetts Speakers of the House have left after felony convictions. All Democrats.
  
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- copatriots
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:28pm
  Blago was just a scapegoat….a useful tool. Always made me laugh at the genuine innocence on his face. He could never understand what he did wrong. Selling seats and abusing power in government is the Chicago way.
  
  Blago: “What, what? I don’t get it. What did I do wrong?”
  
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- EchoHawk
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:49pm
  Republicans only frequent male escorts or men’s public restrooms.
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:01pm
  @ ECHO,
  
  Remind me again……what party does Barney belong to? And what district does Pelosi hail from?
  
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RestoreCapitalism
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:16pm
So when does he start work with MSNBC, or some other marxist media? They’ll probably have to let him out early so he can do that. Maybe Ocommie will have to pardon him.

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lwpenn
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:16pm
That make 3 governors in jail. Chicago do you have something wrong with your water. Obama will let him out when he leaves the Whitehouse in 2013. He keep quiet about Obama’s part in the whole thing.

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TheObamanation
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:16pm
Rahm Emanuel and Obama should be his cell mates.

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- CHRISBOLT123
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:32pm
  You got that right!
  
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- Ookspay
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:44pm
  I guess it’s better to fall on the sword for Obama than to have his goons lop off your head with it.
  
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dmerwin
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:11pm
Will he be able to bring enough product for his ****?

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- Obama Snake Oil Co
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:24pm
  He will have to trade smokes and sex for it, but yeah…..
  
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KickinBack
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:07pm
Blago goes to jail today, will get a presidential pardon by Obama before he leaves office in Jan ’13.

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- dmerwin
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:14pm
  That would be a good question to ask Obama in a presidential debate. “Will you pardon Blagojevich?”.
  
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- nonamesleft
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:46pm
  @demrwn
  
  A good question? yes. But the answer will be a complete lie. He can say whatever he wants in a debate for a second term.
  
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- EchoHawk
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:52pm
  He serves just over four year and Obama pardons him after his second term.
  
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BillAdams3277
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:07pm
Now that they have him, get him to spill the Democratic secrets in exchange for reduced sentence/transfer to Club Fed. After a month in general population, he should be very willing to talk.

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4X4in
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:04pm
Holder or Obama will save him, watch!

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Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:04pm
Blagojevich is going to be doing hard time in federal prison, he well have to wait for hours to use the tennis courts.

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- EPROM
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:50pm
  “You gonna pull those pistols …or whistle Dixie?”
  
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mikee1
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:02pm
That means every politician from COOK CO., IL, should be getting 14. THAT INCLUDES ODUMBO.

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tweet
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:59pm
You lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas!

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Locked
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:59pm
Should have locked him up and thrown away the key for good.

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biohazard23
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:57pm
That’s bleeping golden! Will they give him **** products while he’s in the pokey? Or will he have to resort to something else, like in There’s Something About Mary?

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- crackerone
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:12pm
  Think his **** going to look like Monica’s dress!
  
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BMartin1776
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:53pm
No one cares, he’ll serve 5-7yrs and be out with book, tv and movie deals, making rounds on every talk show given more publicity than he is getting now. He will be richer when it is all over while folks like myself dont have job let alone 2 cents to rub together.

Just more proof of how corrupt Chicago and the govt is. All rotten to the core nothing will ever change until every single sitting politician is removed from power. Nov ’10s are nothing but adrenaline shots in a dying patient.

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” This govt from local, state to federal doesnt fear you America…http://alturl.com/fjzyk

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- The_Hut_In_Co
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:56pm
  I was thinking he’d serve about 3 to 6 months. Being that he’s one of them demoncrats.
  
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- BMartin1776
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:12pm
  Well its federal offense so he will have to do some time unless……. Pharaoh Obama pardons him
  
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moreteaplease
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:51pm
There’s some people in this administration that should be going with him…Holder for starters.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:51pm
Blago is hiding a lot of obama’s sins. He should unburden himself now. Send obama to jail next to him.

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- TXVET48
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:04pm
  What’s the over/under on BHO pardoning this crook.
  
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NickDeringer
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:50pm
Be sure your sins will find you out.

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SUMTHINSTINKS
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:50pm
GOOD! Now they can throw OBUMBLER in there with the CORRUPT SOB!!!

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txblaze
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:47pm
Soon to be pardoned by Obama when he is thrown out of office next year.

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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:45pm
Sing Blago.
Nothing to lose now.
You already lost it all.

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I.Gaspar
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:43pm
we need to put some more chicago politicians in prison, current and past.

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- Stoic one
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:56pm
  How about the Chicago politician residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC?
  
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- I.Gaspar
  Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:01pm
  Stoic One:
  That’s my first choice, too.
  
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hauschild
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:42pm
Nobody cares. Another corrupt liberal; go figure.

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