Former Illinois Governor Blagojevich convicted on lying to federal agents
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (BNO NEWS) – Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday was found guilty and convicted for one count of lying to federal agents during his corruption case, prosecutors said.
The jury deliberated for 14 days before reaching the verdict; however, 23 counts are far from reaching a jury’s decision. The judge announced he planned to call a mistrial on the remaining 23 counts.
Blagojevich pleaded not guilty to the 24 counts including charges related to the sale or trade President Obama’s vacated Senate seat. The jury deliberated for 14 days before reaching a verdict.
The former governor faces charges including racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion and bribery. A two-term Democrat, he was removed from office in January 2009 after controversy for Obama’s vacated Senate seat arisen.
Robert Blagojevich, his brother, is currently under trial with Rod on four of the charges. Robert said that his brother was “trying to politically work something on his benefit but not corruption.”
During trial, prosecutors relied heavily on wiretap tapes in which Blagojevich spew profanity and speculated about getting a Cabinet job in exchange for the Senate seat. His attorneys said he was a big talker but never got engaged in corruption.
For all the 24 counts, Blagojevich faced up to $6 million in fines and a sentence of 415 years in prison.
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