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Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years for corruption charges
[Updated at 1:33 p.m. ET] Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Blagojevich was also sentenced to pay a $20,000 fine.
The judge said he does not have report to prison for 90 days.
"I do accept his apology in his testimony, and I do believe he may regret the fate of others," Judge James Zagel said.
But that wasn't enough for the judge.
"It comes late," he said, of Blagojevich's accepting responsibility for his actions.
In announcing the sentence Judge James Zagel said Blagojevich's abuse of the governor's office "is more damaging than any other office in the U.S." besides the presidency.
Zagel noted that he did not resign as governor despite the indictments, but if he had it might have helped show he accepted responsibility.
The judge told Blagojevich that he had ruined the careers of a few people who worked for him. Zagel also questioned part of Blagojevich's accepting responsibility.
"Why did the thoughts of his children not weigh heavily on his reckless conduct?" Zagel said.
Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation applauded the sentence.
“The sentence handed down today represents a repayment of the debt that Blagojevich owes to the people of Illinois," he said. "While promising an open and honest administration, in reality, the former governor oversaw a comprehensive assault on the public’s trust."
[Posted at 1:03 p.m. ET] Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich apologized to his state, his family and the judge, saying he is "unbelievably sorry," during his sentencing hearing for corruption convictions Wednesday.
"I've had plenty of time to reflect on all that's happened," Blagojevich said. "I'm here convicted of crimes and I am accepting of it, acknowledge it."
Blagojevich, a Democrat, was accused of trying to profit as he considered whom to appoint to succeed Barack Obama when he vacated his Senate seat to move to the White House.
"There is a line between routine politics, horse trading and campaign politics," Blagojevich said. "I thought they were permissible and I was mistaken."
He was convicted of corruption in June after a jury returned 17 guilty verdicts against him.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 15 to 20 years, but his lawyers have called that excessive and asked the judge for leniency on Tuesday, even as they admitted for the first time that crimes were committed.
FULL STORY
Aye. So I tried to trade a saddle. It ain't even horse trading, so gimme a break already.
Agree, this is harsh.
Hey Blago, let not your heeart be troubled, Odumwa will pardon U!
Only 14 years?
10 YEARS WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH
Maybe, but he forgot to pay off this particular judge. Needs to get better...."organized".
It had to be a harsh sentence to be effective. Apparently 6 years for Ryan was not enough message to Blago that you break the law, even as governor, you should go to jail.
Hahahahahaha, this clown.
Blago says he is "unbelievably sorry". Well he's right about that. I don't believe him.
He's "unbelievably sorry" that he was caught!
^^^ whatever. give him life
Did he killed someone to get life? I think 5 yrs would have been more than fair for what he was tried to do.
Airhead
But 14 isn't unfair. It's up to the judge and he did his job. Blago KNEW what he was doing.
That seems a little steep... It's not like he killed someone.
He killed my faith in Chicago politics. Just kidding, of course.
Absolutely agree with you. If he had killed a his wife he probably would have gotten the same sentence. This is crazy!
Don't stop with Rod. All politicians ( at least most) could and should go to jail for corruption!
I totally agree with you! I think every person in the white house should go to prison also.
Corrupt as obama and his fake signatures to get on the ballot
Really? Do you have any proof that Obama was born outside of the u.s?
Just blank dumb
Oop's! Bwhahahhaha....
Is it a real 14-year sentence, or is he eligible for parole or time off for good behavior before the 14 years is up?
But how many years will he be "required" to serve? Less than half?
Also, why does he not have to report to jail for 90 days???... Dr. Murray in Michael Jackson's case was handcuffed in court and taken to jail, why does this idiot get to go home for 90 days???.
Hope you enjoy the company of your cell-mate, Blago. Maybe you can try to scam him out of some smokes the way you scammed the residents of IL.
He's a former politician convicted of a non-violent, federal crime. He isn't going to "real" prison. He's going to the federal country club...
Democrats = Unethical, Uneducated, Crooked, Dishonest.
Truth
Calm down dude.
Coincidently, the exact same can be said (or worse) of the Republicans.
What about Bush that got us into 2 wars and wasting trillions of dollar and counting for the next 60 yrs?
Democrats = Unethical, Uneducated, Crooked, Dishonest = Republican
THE R ALL THE SAME BIT CH
He would be out in 10 months in California.
U GET THAT DAMN RIGHT
Enjoy Prison, always good to see another crooked politician behind bars,...now if we could work on the ones on congress....
The ones you voted for you mean? Maybe congress can put us in jail for telling them to do exactly what they're doing.