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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.
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I do feel sorry for his wife and family, but Blagojevich has done a lot of harm and now he's going to pay for it.
Who EXACTLY did he harm?
I agree with you, I do feel sorry for his family and his yound children whom he will not have the opportunity to see graduate from high school. That relaionship may be permenatly ruined once he gets out of prison. Shame, but like they say you do the crime, you do the time.
Yeah baby!! i wonder if he will get a "prison hsircut". Maybe a little marine bootcamp special. Betcha his wife will be sending him a Dear John letter about oh 3 years or so into his sentence. See ya!!
I'm glad justice has put this main in prison. Am I the only one who thinks all three of the people in the front of this picture look green?
And trash bags like Casey Anthony go free??? Wow...makes sense.
shhhhh.... it's a secret.... it's called evidence sweetheart...
I feel sorry for him. 14 yrs is way too much.
I think it may be so much too much that it will be vacated.
I can't even begin to imagine what 5 minutes in a prison cell would feel like, let alone 14 years. I would lose my mind.
Good!
Justice served. Now let's start of the 500+ in Congress and work our way to the DOJ. It's time for a clean sweep.
This govener is horrible he should of got a life sentence
If justice is for all then why can he wait 90 days. If this was most others they would have been escorted from court to jail. THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN AMERICA UNLESS YOU HAVE $$$$$$$$$$$
Conrad Murray killed Michael Jackson and got 4 years. Blago is a crook, but 14 years is excessive.
Why the 90-day delay? Why is it that this doesn't apply to regular people? And this is why people get angry about rules for the high and mighty and the rules for everyone else.
THIS IS SAD FOR HIS KIDS AND FAMILY, Always when these idiots do corruption the family has to suffer, I do not understand why so many people just do not think before they act, this guy and Murray and Madoff all have their heads up their ass, all have done very bad judgments and actions specially Murray.
Great news!! Blago deserves it. I hope he does every day.
I do not like these political convictions. This man is not a threat to anyone. Imprisoning him is political. He will be a political prisoner. They already took his job. They can fine him and send him home. Maybe he can work and pay taxes and be useful.
He will serve NO TIME. He will, by dead by the end of the week of suicide. His life is over and he knows it.