Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years for corruption

**Curt James** · 12-07-2011, 06:11 PM

Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years for corruption

By Janan Hanna
CHICAGO | Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:55pm EST

(Reuters) - Three years after he was arrested outside his Chicago home on federal corruption charges, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Blagojevich is the fourth former Illinois governor to be convicted of criminal charges since 1973, and received the longest sentence.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel said he "could not comprehend" the defense position that even if Blagojevich were guilty, the governor's conduct caused no harm to the state of Illinois.

"The harm is the erosion of public trust in government," Zagel said, adding that when the governor's office is tainted, the fabric of all government "is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired. You did that damage."

Blagojevich, who will turn 55 on Saturday, was convicted in June of multiple corruption counts for trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by then president-elect Barack Obama and for using his office to extort campaign contributions and jobs for himself and his wife.

From the time of his arrest until his conviction, he launched a national campaign to proclaim his innocence, appearing on television talk and entertainment shows, even being a contestant on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice."

Wednesday was the first time Blagojevich expressed contrition, telling the judge he was "unbelievably sorry," but stopping short of admitting guilt.
"I'm here convicted of crimes," Blagojevich said. "The jury decided I was guilty. I'm accepting of it. I acknowledge it and of course I'm unbelievably sorry for it."

Zagel said Blagojevich had now taken responsibility for his conduct and said he considered that in calculating his sentence. But ultimately, the apology came too late, Zagel said.

Zagel also disputed the defense theory that Blagojevich was misled by his staff.

"The governor was not marched along the criminal path by his staff," Zagel said. "He marched them and ruined a few of their careers."

Blagojevich was also fined $20,000. Under federal sentencing rules, Blagojevich must serve 85 percent of his sentence, or about 12 years, said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

"It's profoundly sad that we are here for the second time in five years to discuss the conviction and sentencing of a governor of Illinois," said Fitzgerald, referring to the conviction of Blagojevich's predecessor, George Ryan.

Fitzgerald said at a news conference that the 14-year sentence sends a strong message "that the public has had enough and that judges have had enough. This has to stop."

Richard Kling, a clinical professor at Chicago Kent College of Law, contrasted Blagojevich's case with Ryan's, noting that Ryan was convicted of crimes that occurred prior to his holding the governor's office, while he was Illinois' secretary of state.

Blagojevich, a flamboyant two-term Democrat, was known for his love of Elvis Presley, his tendency to quote poetry and his full head of carefully tended thick black hair. He was criticized while in office for rarely being in the state capital of Springfield, and letting legislation stall.

He was ousted from office in 2009 after impeachment proceedings by the state legislature.

The White House declined comment on Blagojevich's sentence.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting Blagojevich sought $1.5 million in campaign contributions from supporters of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., in exchange for appointing him to the Senate seat. They also said Blagojevich sought a cabinet post or a high paying Washington job in exchange for appointing Obama's choice for the Senate seat, Valerie Jarrett, now a White House aide.

Federal authorities, who had been taping Blagojevich's profanity-laced conversations with aides, arrested him in December 2008, before he could complete the crime, prosecutors have argued.

He was also convicted of attempting to shake down the head of a children's hospital for campaign cash in exchange for authorizing an increase in doctor reimbursement fees, and for shaking down the head of Illinois racetracks in exchange for approving legislation favorable to the industry.

Blagojevich was tried twice -- first in August 2010, when he was convicted of one charge of lying to investigators and jurors deadlocked on 23 other counts. After a second trial this year, he was convicted of 17 of 20 counts.
Blagojevich must report to prison on February 16.

(Writing and reporting by Janan Hanna; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and Greg McCune)

From Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years for corruption | Reuters

**Curt James** · 12-07-2011, 06:26 PM

**vancouver** · 12-07-2011, 06:35 PM

He'll make a run for it. There's no way a guy like that is going to waist some of the best years of his life in Jail. He'll be 67 when he gets out (with time off for good behaviour).

**GearsMcGilf** · 12-07-2011, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by vancouver

He'll make a run for it. There's no way a guy like that is going to waist some of the best years of his life in Jail. He'll be 67 when he gets out (with time off for good behaviour).

Damn that's gotta suck. He'll be old and penniless when he gets out. If he's smart, he's already used some of the cash he stashed away to get a fake passport so he can make a run for it and head off to some remote island with his fam.

**SFW** · 12-07-2011, 07:11 PM

He's being watched, theres no place for him to go. Im sure they have many sets of eyes fixed on him until sentencing.

He should just kill himself, maybe take a few public officials with him. Hopefully he calls a press conference and pulls a bud dwyer.

**Curt James** · 12-07-2011, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by vancouver

He'll make a run for it. There's no way a guy like that is going to waste some of the best years of his life in Jail. He'll be 67 when he gets out (with time off for good behaviour).

That's exactly what I thought when I read he has to report in February. Wtf? This man will disappear.

There was some talk of a pardon by Obama on one of the radio shows, too.

**Curt James** · 12-07-2011, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by SFW

He's being watched, theres no place for him to go. Im sure they have many sets of eyes fixed on him until sentencing.

Pay off some people. Create a diversion somehow. Plant him in a garbage can and get him out on a trash barge. lol

Originally Posted by SFW

He should just kill himself, maybe take a few public officials with him. Hopefully he calls a press conference and pulls a bud dwyer.

**SFW** · 12-07-2011, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Curt James

Pay off some people. Create a diversion somehow. Plant him in a garbage can and get him out on a trash barge. lol

He'll need a disguise first. His feathered (but stylish) combover is a dead giveaway. Maybe a shaved head with a pencil thin sharpie beard?

Honestly i hope he makes it. Thats a steep stretch of time.

**LAM** · 12-07-2011, 07:54 PM

lol at the CJ system in the US. one person gets 15 years for corruption and another gets supervised probation for solicitation of murder.

granted politicians and LE should get stiffer penalties that seems rather extreme for a non-violent act. anyone know if that is a class B felony or lower?

**Curt James** · 12-07-2011, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by LAM

lol at the CJ system in the US. one person gets 15 years for corruption and another gets supervised probation for solicitation of murder.

granted politicians and LE should get stiffer penalties that seems rather extreme for a non-violent act. anyone know if that is a class B felony or lower?

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/c...pr0402_01a.pdf

^^^^ link to the indictment

In a 19-count indictment, prosecutors said the “primary purpose of the Blagojevich Enterprise was to exercise and preserve power over the government of the State of Illinois for the financial and political benefit of” Mr. Blagojevich, his family and his friends.

Running 75 pages, the indictment had been expected for nearly four months, since Mr. Blagojevich was arrested. The former governor, a second-term Democrat whose political career has come apart, was charged with 16 felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Five of his closest advisers — his brother, one of his top fund-raisers, two of his former chiefs of staff and a Springfield businessman — were also charged with crimes.

More @ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/us/03illinois.html

**Dark Geared God** · 12-07-2011, 08:13 PM

**vancouver** · 12-07-2011, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by SFW

He's being watched, theres no place for him to go. Im sure they have many sets of eyes fixed on him until sentencing.

He should just kill himself, maybe take a few public officials with him. Hopefully he calls a press conference and pulls a bud dwyer.

With enough money, anyone can disappear...

**Vibrant** · 12-07-2011, 08:56 PM

all he has to do is get into mexico, and from there just keep going south.

**GearsMcGilf** · 12-07-2011, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Curt James

There was some talk of a pardon by Obama on one of the radio shows, too.

I seriously doubt that's gonna happen, especially when Blago is on tape calling Barry a motherfucker. Even if he does, he'll probably do like most presidents and Blago will have to wait till the day before he leaved office (1-5 years from now). Hopefully he's busy shaving his head and packing his shit right now.

**LAM** · 12-08-2011, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by Curt James

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/c...pr0402_01a.pdf

^^^^ link to the indictment

In a 19-count indictment, prosecutors said the “primary purpose of the Blagojevich Enterprise was to exercise and preserve power over the government of the State of Illinois for the financial and political benefit of” Mr. Blagojevich, his family and his friends.

Running 75 pages, the indictment had been expected for nearly four months, since Mr. Blagojevich was arrested. The former governor, a second-term Democrat whose political career has come apart, was charged with 16 felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. Five of his closest advisers — his brother, one of his top fund-raisers, two of his former chiefs of staff and a Springfield businessman — were also charged with crimes.

More @ Blagojevich Indictment Lays Out ‘Enterprise’ of Corruption - NYTimes.com

dam I remember hearing about this but it seems like he got his comeuppance. that's a hell of a lot of felony charges with a lot of guilty verdicts on almost all of them.

**GearsMcGilf** · 12-08-2011, 04:17 AM

It could be worse. If he'd been convicted in China, it would be a bullet in the back of the head. That is of course, if he were caught. Over here, that kind of activity is practically part of the job description for govt officials, from what I've heard. They're only caught and punished if it becomes a serious problem and/or gets out in the international media.

**fitter420** · 12-08-2011, 09:23 AM

They def. made an example out of him. What he did is just "another day at the office" in Chicago.

**IronAddict** · 12-08-2011, 09:42 AM

Ain't this about a bitch...This mutha phuqa of all the mutha phuqas who are guilty of corruption gets 14 years.

"The harm is the erosion of public trust in government," Zagel said, adding that when the governor's office is tainted, the fabric of all government "is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired. You did that damage."

Sorry to say, but this goes a lot higher than just the Gov. office.

I swear to god, lady justice isn't freakin blind, the bitch is wearing blinders!

**Curt James** · 12-08-2011, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by fitter420

They def. made an example out of him. What he did is just "another day at the office" in Chicago.

The one talk radio show said Blago's mistake was in not spreading the wealth around. People didn't like him because he only took care of himself.

**ALBOB** · 12-09-2011, 04:26 PM

Hoping and praying he's just the first in a looooooong list of dominoes to fall. PuhLEEEEEEZ let Eric Holder's be the next head on the chopping block.

**vancouver** · 12-09-2011, 04:44 PM

I've been thinking about this for a few days now and I've come to the opinion that he should not spend a day in jail. While he did commit a crime, he did not victimize a person nor is he a violent offender; yes he victimized the taxpayer, but no physical or poperty damage was done. Rather than Jail him, he should have been stripped of his public service pension and ordered to pay restitution. The taxpayer not only paid for his trial, they will continue to pay for him for 14 years. There is no justice being served here...murderers can serve less jail time.

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