Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Corruption
- Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:41pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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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 2:33pmWrong guy is going to jail. Should be Obama and Jessie Jackson Jr.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:42pmIsn‘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 Post »teamarcheson
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:44pmHe 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 Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:45pmThe 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 Post »Pontiac
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:48pmMark 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 Post »Harry Assenback
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:55pmBlago needs to share a cell with Sandusky……….Nice haircut Sluggo!
Report Post »dejon
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:58pmthe boy in the White House will pardon him soon
Report Post »Continental Patriot
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:59pmPontiac, 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 Post »stheide1
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:05pmI 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 Post »Miguelito
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:06pmWe 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 Post »mad_hatter
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:07pmhe’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 Post »SoulReaver
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:30pmtrue they are so dirty that Rezko and blago tried to subpoena obummer and were denied.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:30pmIf he was a DC politician, he would have been re-elected and might have had a bridge named after him.
Report Post »jeann
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:07pmI’m with you on this one…the corruption is almost sickening to me…..
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:12pmWhile 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 Post »Unix
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:22pmThat‘s F’ing golden, rot in jail Blago! LOL
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:29pmHope that he now feels free enough to rat out shyster, Rahm Emanuel.
Report Post »Whistleblower
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:37pmOde to Poor Blago
http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2011/12/07/ode-to-poor-blago/
Report Post »barnsy
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:16pmAt 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 Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:23pmThis could make him the longest
Report Post »serving Governor …
LibsFIB
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 12:07pmObama 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!!!!
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:26pmBlago 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…
Report Post »bernbart
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:20pmHe 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.
Report Post »snoozinglion
Posted on December 8, 2011 at 4:35amRead this article that explains everything about Rezko, Blago and Obama…
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2007/Mr-Inside-Out/
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:25pmOne Chicago thug down, many more to go. I wonder if the same judge would preside over Holder, Obummer, Geitner, etc
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:41pmPlease like Obama won’t be giving Blago a pardon really soon.
Report Post »jeann
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:11pmcould 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.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:21pmWOO 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.
Report Post »STS2_SS_Iver
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:27pmThe last three Massachusetts Speakers of the House have left after felony convictions. All Democrats.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:28pmBlago 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?”
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:49pmRepublicans only frequent male escorts or men’s public restrooms.
Report Post »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?
Report Post »RestoreCapitalism
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:16pmSo 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.
Report Post »lwpenn
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:16pmThat 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.
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:16pmRahm Emanuel and Obama should be his cell mates.
Report Post »CHRISBOLT123
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:32pmYou got that right!
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:44pmI guess it’s better to fall on the sword for Obama than to have his goons lop off your head with it.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:11pmWill he be able to bring enough product for his hair?
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:24pmHe will have to trade smokes and sex for it, but yeah…..
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:07pmBlago goes to jail today, will get a presidential pardon by Obama before he leaves office in Jan ‘13.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:14pmThat would be a good question to ask Obama in a presidential debate. “Will you pardon Blagojevich?”.
Report Post »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.
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:52pmHe serves just over four year and Obama pardons him after his second term.
Report Post »BillAdams3277
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:07pmNow 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.
Report Post »4X4in
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:04pmHolder or Obama will save him, watch!
Report Post »Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:04pmBlagojevich is going to be doing hard time in federal prison, he well have to wait for hours to use the tennis courts.
Report Post »EPROM
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:50pm“You gonna pull those pistols …or whistle Dixie?”
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:02pmThat means every politician from COOK CO., IL, should be getting 14. THAT INCLUDES ODUMBO.
Report Post »tweet
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:59pmYou lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:59pmShould have locked him up and thrown away the key for good.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:57pmThat’s bleeping golden! Will they give him hair products while he’s in the pokey? Or will he have to resort to something else, like in There’s Something About Mary?
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:12pmThink his hair going to look like Monica’s dress!
Report Post »BMartin1776
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:53pmNo 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
Report Post »The_Hut_In_Co
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:56pmI was thinking he’d serve about 3 to 6 months. Being that he’s one of them demoncrats.
Report Post »BMartin1776
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:12pmWell its federal offense so he will have to do some time unless……. Pharaoh Obama pardons him
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:51pmThere’s some people in this administration that should be going with him…Holder for starters.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:51pmBlago is hiding a lot of obama’s sins. He should unburden himself now. Send obama to jail next to him.
Report Post »TXVET48
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:04pmWhat’s the over/under on BHO pardoning this crook.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:50pmBe sure your sins will find you out.
Report Post »SUMTHINSTINKS
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:50pmGOOD! Now they can throw OBUMBLER in there with the CORRUPT SOB!!!
Report Post »txblaze
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:47pmSoon to be pardoned by Obama when he is thrown out of office next year.
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:45pmSing Blago.
Report Post »Nothing to lose now.
You already lost it all.
I.Gaspar
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:43pmwe need to put some more chicago politicians in prison, current and past.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:56pmHow about the Chicago politician residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC?
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 2:01pmStoic One:
Report Post »That’s my first choice, too.
hauschild
Posted on December 7, 2011 at 1:42pmNobody cares. Another corrupt liberal; go figure.
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