Thread: Blagojevich gets 14 years in prison

Judge sentences ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison for corruption

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, December 7, 10:52 AM

CHICAGO — 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.

Blagojevich’s 18 convictions included allegations of trying to leverage his power to appoint someone to President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat to raise 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,â€

Court overturns some Blagojevich convictions

Published July 21, 2015 Associated Press

DEVELOPING: An appeals court has overturned some of the corruption convictions of imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago released its ruling Tuesday.

The Democrat is in a Colorado prison serving a 14-year sentence after jurors convicted him of 18 corruption counts over two trials.

Eleven were on charges he sought to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama's old Senate seat for campaign money or a job.

In his appeal, the 58-year-old Blagojevich argued he'd merely engaged in legal, run-of-the-mill political horse-trading. The appeal also alleged a litany of errors by trial Judge James Zagel.

His appeal seemed to face long odds. The 7th Circuit has a reputation for rarely quashing convictions.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015...onvictions/ich