Former Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich found guilty in corruption trial

By: Camille Mann
Topics: Daily Blotter

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 27: Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti arrive for the verdict in his corruption retrial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse June 27, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. Jurors have reached a verdict on the 18 of the 20 counts that Blagojevich is being retried on after he alledgedly tried to sell an appointment to President Barack Obamaâ??s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti arrive for the verdict in his corruption retrial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse June 27, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.

/ Getty Images

(CBS/WBBM/AP) CHICAGO - A federal jury found former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of 17 of the 20 counts he was accused of, including those related to trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's old Senate seat and other corruption charges.

Blagojevich was found not guilty on one count of bribery related to an alleged shakedown of the Illinois Tollway. Jurors could not agree on two other counts of attempted extortion, one in connection with the Illinois Tollway and another regarding a school for which he was trying to get funds, reports CBS station WBBM.

Former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich cried as the verdict was read for each count. The former governor himself sat expressionless.

The jury of 11 women and one man delivered their verdicts after deliberating for nine days. They had heard six weeks of testimony before they began their deliberations, including seven days of testimony from Blagojevich himself. The prosecution had presented a very streamlined case compared to the first trial last summer, presenting only three weeks of evidence, compared to about six weeks of evidence at the first trial.

Prosecutors said Blagojevich lied and the proof was on FBI wiretaps. Those included a widely parodied clip in which Blagojevich calls the Senate opportunity "f**king golden." Jurors in his first trial deadlocked on all but one charge, convicting Blagojevich of lying to the FBI. Prosecutors opted to try him again. Blagojevich already faces up to five years for the lying conviction.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Blagojevich could face up to 300 years in prison, but experts say his sentence is likely to be closer to 10 years.

Complete Coverage of Rod Blagojevich on Crimesider

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by ollandkece December 6, 2011 9:43 PM EST: I think he has to bring on Jail and catch Him!

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by katkeeper July 14, 2011 12:18 PM EDT: The X Governors conviction hasn't helped me. The money wasted on this trial should have been used for the war on drugs, roads, schools or 100 other good uses. The big benefactor here is the media!; Reply to this comment


by davidd5063 June 29, 2011 12:23 PM EDT: Wake me when someone does NOT go to prison after being gov. of IL.; Reply to this comment


by bcpats June 28, 2011 12:08 PM EDT: It is really no surprise that he was found guilty. Chicago is still mob-infested and justice is only a word. Perhaps he was guilty of a lot of under-handed shenanigins....... but he spoke out against Rahm Emanuel, and some others, so guess what ??? - - no surprise !! Except that he is a Democrat.; Reply to this comment


by agnesdeo June 28, 2011 10:58 AM EDT: Money talks, we will see how much time he gets in prison.
I bet very little. Our legal system is filled with immoral corruption because it is ruled by corrupt lawyers, who become corrupt judges.
Sad to say, corrupt lawyers play a major role in the downfall of this nation and society.; Reply to this comment


by djseavy June 27, 2011 10:33 PM EDT: Of course he'll do little time. The entire system is corrupt, and if you're a member of it, even a judge, you can't hardly send Blog to prison for even 10 years with a straight face. What he did goes on with most politicians (especially during elections) he just happened to lie to the FBI, and I have no doubt the prosecutor is going to run for a higher office and needed a trophy case. Sick sick sick.; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt June 27, 2011 9:32 PM EDT: Former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich cried as the verdict was read for each count.
----
What is incredible is that she didn't face charges as well.

She was all up in the graft....; Reply to this comment


by retm-w June 27, 2011 9:26 PM EDT: Just a normal politician right or left.; Reply to this comment


by STORMIEEE June 27, 2011 7:10 PM EDT: I MUST SAY THAT RON REALLY AMAZES ME? NO KIDDING!!!!!
THIS BLOKE WAS HANDED DOWN A "VERDICT", AND, ONE THAT HE
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OUTCOME; AND HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO
SAY THAT HE IS DISAPPOINTED AS TO ITS OUTCOME?

LISTEN BRO - EVER SEEN A PERSON PLANT JALAPENOS, AND GET
MANGOES IN RETURN. DON'T THINK SO!!; Reply to this comment


by imapatriot3 June 27, 2011 7:02 PM EDT: Why would his sentence only be ten years? Any normal person would sit ten times longer. What a joke.; Reply to this comment