Crime

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Found Guilty on 17 of 20 Counts

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Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Found Guilty on 17 of 20 CountsCHICAGO (The Blaze/AP) — A jury has convicted Rod Blagojevich of nearly all the corruption charges against him, including trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.

Jurors delivered their verdicts Monday after deliberating nine days.

Blagojevich had faced 20 charges, including the Senate seat allegation and that he schemed to shake down executives for campaign donations. He was convicted on all charges regarding the Senate seat. According to The New York Times:

Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat whose former aides say once saw himself as a presidential contender some day, was found guilty of 17 counts of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery, extortion conspiracy and bribery conspiracy. He was acquitted on one charge of bribery, and the jury s deadlocked on two counts of attempted extortion.

The verdict appeared to be the conclusion, at last, to the spectacle of Mr. Blagojevich’s political career, which began its spiraling descent shortly after Mr. Obama was elected president in November 2008. A month after Election Day, Mr. Blagojevich, who under state law was required to pick a new senator to replace Mr. Obama, was arrested, and federal agents revealed that they had secretly recorded hundreds of hours of damaging phone calls by him and his advisers

He testified for seven days, denying wrongdoing. Prosecutors said he lied and the proof was on FBI wiretaps. Those included a widely parodied clip in which Blagojevich calls the Senate opportunity “f—— golden.”

Jurors in his first trial deadlocked on all but one charge, convicting Blagojevich of lying to the FBI.

Blagojevich already faces up to five years for the lying conviction.

Comments (162)

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  • windycitywoman
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:06pm

    I live in Illinois, hence the name windy city woman, I’m glad to see the corruption of the “machine” has been stooped. I only hope and pray that it continues to be stop and that this sets precedence for other office officials. Us Illinois people are sick of it, we are sick of the taxes and the unbalanced budgets, not to mention the terrible democratic thugs ruining us. As soon as we can sell this house, we are out of here, moving to Indy with a conservative governor who has turned his state around ~

    Report Post » windycitywoman  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:30pm

      Windycity, with all due respect, the corruption machine wasn’t stopped. It was more like one mafia family taking down another family’s don. The state of Illinois is still as rotten and corrupt as any in the United States. As far as the citizens of Illinois being sick of it, we both know that really isn’t true.
      Look who they just voted in as mayor of Chicago, knowing how corrupt the Obama administration is.
      People of Illinois are proud of being corrupt, they wear it like a badge and they’ve been that way since the 1800s.

      Report Post »  
    • Slowman101
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 5:00pm

      I am from Peoria. Now live in New york state. It’s just as bad or worse here!

      Report Post »  
    • derfreebie
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:26am

      @windycitywoman
      And dear lady, after you’ve settled in, please see
      what you can do with the other aware and concerned
      Hoosiers about finding that pesky missing 4th Amendment.
      I believe their Supreme Court just recently SCUTTLED it.

      Report Post »  
  • MysTfy
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:04pm

    HALLELUJAH! Justice lives!

    Report Post »  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:56pm

    @Snowleopard: Even if Blago did come forward with name, dates and everything else including signed confessions do you think Holder would even look at any evidence?

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:55pm

    As an Illinoisan I can say that we sincerely wish Chicago (Cook County) was it’s own State. All I can say is, another one bites the dust. We were trying to figure out how many of our Governors HAVE NOT ended up in prison. It’s easier to figure that out than how many have been imprisoned.

    Report Post »  
  • EnoughBS
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:53pm

    “Blagojevich already faces up to five years for the lying conviction.”

    Really?!! this is all he’d serve?

    Report Post » EnoughBS  
    • jjoy
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 5:58pm

      it’s doubtful that he will serve even one day… Remember, his buddy obama can hand him a presidential pardon…

      Report Post » jjoy  
  • PatriotSmith
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:53pm

    Hey Blago, Trump called and wants his hair back…

    Report Post » PatriotSmith  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:52pm

    Blago‘s goin’ away for a looooooong time.

    How is Shep Smith gonna survive without his Planet Blago bit?

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
  • jacobstroubles
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:50pm

    escape_from_socialism
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:40pm
    Second Commie down, Obama, Pelosi, Reid

    AGREED!
    They all need to be brought up on charges – right now!

    Report Post »  
  • chitown
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:48pm

    What’s wrong with this picture? We have a governor going to jail who never stole any money. And we have former mayor Daley and his son who stole lots and lots of money not charged with anything.

    Report Post » chitown  
    • moonsbreath
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:04pm

      I agree. I think some people may need to rethink their celebration. Sure Blago shopped around for a buyer of Obama’s seat, but I thought you could only be tried when something of value was actually exchanged. No money or position was actually exchanged.

      Report Post » moonsbreath  
  • GunsaBlazing
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:47pm

    So ashamed to say Chicago(my home town) didnt realize when there, how corrupt Illinois is.
    I am sure Blago is afraid to talk as he might show up somewhere dead.
    Chicago, I am so sorry for the honest ones who live there.

    Report Post » GunsaBlazing  
  • salguy
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:43pm

    Time to put obama on trial. There are many charges that can be laid against him. We can start with the most recent. Violation of the War Powers Act. That alone is an impeachable offense. No one seems to have enough balls to do what is right though.

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:08pm

      I’ll bet BO was on the blackberry calling “Murder Incorporated.” It’s an unlisted number.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:13pm

      Pelosi has them. Unfortunately they belong to Reid.

      Report Post »  
  • ISRAELISOURFRIEND
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:40pm

    I want to know:

    Does corruption trickle up or down?

    I believe it trickles both ways and up and down both legs of politicians.

    TREASON IS TREASON, IT START WITH CORRUPTION!

    Report Post » ISRAELISOURFRIEND  
  • spinelessdave
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:40pm

    You should have given Valerie Jarred the seat! The long arm of Obama is punishing you.
    It’s ugly when rats turn on their own, VOTE REPUBLCAN

    Report Post » spinelessdave  
  • Showtime
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:39pm

    Now let’s move on to Barack Obama, Harrison J. Bounel, Steve Dunham, Barack Dunham, and Barry Soetoro!

    Let the court cases begin!

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:25pm

      Go Girl!

      ((but first you need a case, or shall we just fabricate something convenient))

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Moved to Montreal
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:25pm

      Barry O needs to go. This country has gone down the toilet ever since he took office. Soros scares the heck out of me. We need to oust the entire Democratic part in 2012.

      Report Post »  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:39pm

    Who didn’t believe he wass guilty?
    Strike one – he’s a politician – they’re all guilty of something.
    Strike two – he’s a democrat
    Strike three – he’s from Illinois

    We haven’t had an honest politician in Illinois in fifty years!

    Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:42pm

      There are no honest politicians. There are only honest men and women.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • bestartist
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:52pm

      Blago is the Sacrificial Lamb
      I’m sure he was guilty of, when push comes to shove, minor infractions.
      How was Rahm Emmanuel who wasn’t a resident of Chicago , allowed to become the Mayor?
      How was Barack Obama/Soetoro/Bounel/Oz allowed to become POTUS when he isn’t even a Natural Born Citizen?
      Nothing to see here, move on sheeple, now that we’ve thrown you a bone.
      Go back to sleep.

      Report Post » bestartist  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:38pm

    Now if we could just get the other Chicago thug out of Washington we might save our country.

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • drimmel
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:37pm

    Hey Illinois, your two for two on your last two governer picks. Think you need to drain the sawmp and maybe stop counting all those dead voters? Just saying!

    Report Post »  
  • kreese
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:35pm

    Now that Blago is taken care of——When do we start on the real crooks–Daly, Obama, Emanuel, Jackson (Jr&Sr)……Maybe Blago will talk, but I’m sure he fears for his life.

    If you drain that Chicago swamp, the Mississippi River would be polluted for next hundred years.

    Report Post »  
    • GENEPAGLIARI
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:40pm

      UNFORTUNATELY, i don’t think this is over by a long shot. There will be endless appeals, the judge will be found incompetent or a myriad of other wrenches can be thrown into the works. I hope I am wrong, but after the earlier article on Soros’ purchase of judges, one can only wonder.

      Report Post »  
  • h20sue
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:35pm

    Pick up all the lying libs and put em all away. You can start with the Whitehouse, and then go down the roll in the Senate and Congress. This time someone finally pulled the plug. I would have enjoyed being a fly on the wall and seen his face. The “fellas” in prison are going to love this one….

    Report Post »  
  • Fight for America
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:34pm

    Illinois the Corruption Never Ends.

    Report Post »  
  • GENEPAGLIARI
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:32pm

    OFF with his HEAD

    Report Post »  
  • Caran
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:32pm

    Next!

    Report Post » Caran  
  • AZBOB
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:31pm

    I can’t believe that they found our buddy Blago guilty.

    Report Post »  
    • Robert-CA
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:56pm

      Hey Blago we “really love” you man don’t go down alone take them down with you & specially … you know who .

      Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • cessna152
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:30pm

    1 down hundreds of more cheating, lying libs to go….

    Report Post » cessna152  
    • fatjack
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:37pm

      I know you meant thousands.

      Report Post » fatjack  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:47am

      Well well well. It seems that not all of the folks in Chicago are crooked morons. The jury should be commended. Unfortunately, we will never know who they are. For their own protection of course.

      Report Post »  
  • oriondma05
    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:29pm

    Sing Blago! Sing! Let us know how much pressure Rahm and Obambi put on you to make sure that senate seat stayed black.

    Report Post » oriondma05  
    • Mike Westfall No Hiding
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:37pm

      At least common sense can prevail at some point. Good for the prosecution to retry the criminal!

      Report Post » Mike Westfall No Hiding  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:37pm

      Tell the whole story with names, dates, locations and the criminals also included in it…

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • escape_from_socialism
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:40pm

      Second Commie down, Obama, Pelosi, Reid are next….

      Report Post »  
    • SmokinBugsy
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:41pm

      Hope he does. Cut him a deal and lets get obama!

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:46pm

      I agree .. he knows a lot of “secrets” now would be the time to “deal” …. or get even!

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • mdlwoods
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:51pm

      Unfortunately, he won’t sing because I am sure, in the old-style Chicago mobster way, his family has been threatened.

      Report Post » mdlwoods  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:52pm

      Please tell all Blago….. Save the country if you can…… Please tell on Obama, Valerie, Rhaum, and the rest of the WH. Don’t go down Alone. Please please talk

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:53pm

      I hope soon, BO will be your cell mate…Then you can PLAY together!!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:54pm

      Where did they find 12 unbiased jurors in Chicago? I hope he spills everything he knows and that the Obama regime goes down.

      Report Post »  
    • SlimnRanger
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:55pm

      I am going to make a guess that he serves no longer than 5 years,or if Obama gets defeated he will pardon him

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:57pm

      I’m giddy with excitement! Blago is going to bring everyone down with him…. scorched earth…. once he realizes he has no viable shot at an appeal, he’ll be making deals any way he can get them. This verdict just made a lot of Lefties start hearing footsteps.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:58pm

      Yeah! Now tell me Rham and Obama had nothing to to with this. Yea, right!

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Non_Probate_Asset
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:59pm

      No, the time to deal is BEFORE you are convicted. The prosecution got their man, and they got a conviction. What incentive do they have to make any sort of deal with him now?

      Report Post »  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:01pm

      He’s a man who has demonstrated his ability to sing…maybe his newest release will take down some of the criminals in the white house.

      Report Post »  
    • Mrtoohappy
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:03pm

      He will start to sing now. If he lives long enough. May be it will come out on just how Obama got his seat.

      Report Post »  
    • GRAMPA-D-NH
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:04pm

      With conviction, I sure Blago he has something more “golden” to deal.

      Report Post » GRAMPA-D-NH  
    • SREGN
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:10pm

      I love to singah. About the moonah and the junah, and the springa……

      Report Post »  
    • discardofevil
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:11pm

      I want the whole truth!!! We all know Obama is guilty in this!!! Come on secret service, FBI, and those of you who have been paid off, you all need to come forward!!!

      Report Post »  
    • fastfacts
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:18pm

      NO DUH!!!!

      Now it is time to drain him of information. I want to know everyone that was part of this. I want a Tell-All. But you know a judge will block his book.

      I wonder what will come out about Jackson Jr. He is just as corrupt as his father. That is why Sharpton could never win a political office. Since he can’t do he teaches, he tries to ‘indoctrinate’ the people with his rhetoric. Look at what he said about Gingrich today about the black vote: http://tiny.cc/r2ny1

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:20pm

      Same here, Blago, tell what you know, before you go to prison. I hope he can provide proof, not just hearsay.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Mr. Oshawott
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:22pm

      Finally! After all that time, it looks like Rod Blagojevich is going to be vacating in a place he should’ve been in months earlier: prison. Unfortunately, I’m having a feeling that this may be far from over, given the fact that Chicago has been mired in all sorts of state government-sponsored corruption for decades…

      Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:23pm

      Water-board him – make him say what is best for the safety of the country. Get Jack Bauer and Dick Cheney in there NOW! Stat!

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:27pm

      Doesnt matter Im sure Holder will get involved now. Big show trial. Nothing will come of this Im sure. After all, it is Chicago, home of corruption, organized crime, and our president.

      Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
    • hauschild
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:39pm

      Blago will suddenly “clam-up”, or risk being fit with a pair of Chicago’s finest cement boots.

      Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 4:56pm

      i think the opportunity for him to sing has sadly passed. plus, even if he sings… i’m pretty sure this guy has zero credibility now.

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 5:22pm

      Americanism-such an honable religion!

      Report Post »  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 5:28pm

      Ah Rod, too bad you didn’t drag Rham-bo with ya….

      at least you had the sense not to tweet yer junk….

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • Sage0925
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 5:54pm

      Blago will keep silent in exchange of a promise of a Presidential pardon.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 6:11pm

      .
      Blagojevich your own kind threw you under the bus “Chicago politics”. LMAO!

      Report Post »  
    • Evileye
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 6:29pm

      18 month if he keep his mouth shut
      20 years if he threatens Obumbler
      House gone
      Wife gone
      Massive fine to pay off.
      He will be a nice boy like the stamp lick er Congressman Rostenkowski

      Report Post »  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 6:38pm

      Hahahahahahahahaha,

      Corrupt politicians!

      I’m all in favor of French Justice…bring on the guillotine!

      hope you like black cokkk up your arse!

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 6:40pm

      Hundreds of thousand of violent black criminals are salivating at the mouth at the thought of virgin white arse!

      Enjoy prison White boy!

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • avenger
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:29pm

      he is about to become an opera singer…

      Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:38pm

      Cha-ching. Gives me some of my faith back that our system is not ENTIRELY broken. May he be quickly introduced to ‘Big Jerome” in prison as his new houseguest. Think he’ll make any money off that one???

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:50pm

      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty
      Guilty

      testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…
      Mi mi mi mi mi mi…

      SING, Blago, SING!!!

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:51pm

      Down goes Blago…Down goes Blago!

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • derfreebie
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:19am

      It’s too bad everybody who could get tripped up from all this is
      either so well insulated or beyond suspicion by the LameStream
      nothing will happen. W. did everything but pardon Scooter– but if
      B.even sneezes in the Dirksen Building’s direction somebody
      might spill a load from Columbia U. Oh wait, we can’t look there.
      Besides, didn’t our Savior simply materialize from Krypton fully
      grown and toting court orders to seal everything about his past?
      We may be living through the craziest possible extreme of the
      Eigth Protocol: in a nutshell “Don’t hire anybody less
      compromised than you are.” Way to go guys- the Ultimate.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:44am

      Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……..Now get the hell out of here Blago.

      Report Post »  
    • LHT
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 6:18am

      I hope he does sing even though the Chicago mobs are probably watching his family. I hope he will think of their mantra “the end justifies the means” when he is comtemplating to destroy OB.

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:17am

      Will Blago get a Clinton-esque pardon from obama as he leaves office in January 2013?

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • shazam3
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 5:33pm

      Blago, how’s it feel to be the only one caught in a city of thousands.

      Report Post »  
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