At his sentencing hearing later in 2011, an uncharacteristically deferential Blagojevich asked the Judge for mercy and said he accepted responsibility. He told the court in a hushed voice, "I caused it all." Now let me go, yer Honor!
Secret wiretaps of Blagojevich eager to earn big money were at the core of prosecutors' case. "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden," jurors heard Blagojevich saying in one wiretapped conversation about Obama's vacated seat. "And I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I'm not going to do it." I wuz jes' jokin', yer Honor!
The appeal cites a juror who allegedly expressed a bias against Blagojevich who was seated despite the objections of defense attorneys. It also raises longstanding claims that the Judge barred FBI wiretap evidence that might have aided the defense and argues the judge miscalculated the appropriate prison term. Yeah, he shoulda gone up for twice as long!
Appeals can take years to play out, and defendants rarely prevail. Another Illinois governor convicted for corruption, George Ryan, filed multiple appeals over years and lost every key ruling. To be fair and balanced, I believe Ryan was (R), but I'm pretty sure Blago was a (D) - see the photo. I was living in Illinois when the news got out that Secretary of State Paul Powell passed away (1970) and left $800,000 in cash under his Springfield apartment bed. In shoeboxes.
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/16/2013 06:53 ||
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Others not listed. Must be something in the water:
George Ryan: Governor from 1999-2003, Illinois secretary of state from 1991 to 1999. Found guilty in 2006 on 18 federal counts regarding actions during time as secretary of state and as governor. Sentenced to 6½ years, imprisoned from 2007 to present, with an estimated release date of July 4, 2013.
Otto Kerner: Governor from 1961-1968, federal appeals court judge from 1968 to 1974. Found guilty in 1973 on 17 federal counts regarding actions during time as governor. Sentenced to 3 years, but imprisoned for less than a year (from 1974 to 1975) because of poor health.
Dan Walker: Governor from 1973 to 1977. Pleaded guilty in 1987 to three federal counts regarding actions occurring after he left office. Initially sentenced to seven years, but released after a year and a half (from 1988 to 1989) because of health concerns.
Other Illinois politicians
Dan Rostenkowski: Congressman from 1959 to 1995. Pleaded guilty in 1996 to two federal counts regarding actions during time in Congress. Sentenced to 17 months, imprisoned for 15 months, from 1996 to 1997.
Mel Reynolds: Congressman from 1993 to 1995. Found guilty in 1995 on state counts related to having sex with a minor. Sentenced to five years. Then found guilty in 1997 on 15 federal counts regarding actions during campaigns for Congress. Sentenced to six and a half years. President Clinton commuted his sentence in 2001.
Betty Loren Maltese: Cicero town president from 1993 to 2002. Found guilty in 2002 on six federal counts regarding actions during time as town president. Sentenced to eight years, imprisoned for seven years, from 2003 to 2010.
Jim Laski: Chicago city clerk from 1995 to 2006. Pleaded guilty in 2006 on one federal count regarding actions during time as alderman and city clerk. Sentenced to two years, imprisoned for less than a year, from 2007 to 2008.
Tom Keane: Alderman from 1945 to 1974. Found guilty in 1974 on 18 federal counts regarding actions during his time as alderman. Sentenced to five years, imprisoned for less than two years, from 1976 to 1978.
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At his sentencing hearing later in 2011, an uncharacteristically deferential Blagojevich asked the Judge for mercy and said he accepted responsibility. He told the court in a hushed voice, "I caused it all."
