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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'm usually on the Republican side of things. But didn't he just openly talk about what they all do?
Dang it, Blagojevich, if you're going to commit a crime pick murder. You could have murdered 3 of the Jackson Five and been out in 12 years. Idiot.
If he would have murdered 3 of the Jackson 5 while he was in a car, and the 3 were on bicycles, he would have gotten a suspended drivers license as his punishment! Foolz!
With Murder he would have been out in 3-7 with "good time" credit. Right IDOIT , kill someone next time..
Hey, but it look at it this way, Blago, you'll get a free haircut in jail!!! Maybe you can sell your hair to farmers to keep the deer away. It's better than selling a government seat. Buh-bye.
Thank you for giving me the best laugh I have had all week. You are so right! Amen to ya!
So he doesn't have to show up for 90 days? What makes him so special? Normal people don't even get to say goodbye to love ones, we are just wisked away from the court to the lockup...
Good question! Why? He should be in his cell tonight.
Cuz his was not a violent crime.
Wow. and rightly so. He'll do about 5 but either way, decent message sent. He's a dbag
Actually he'll be required to serve 85% of the sentence – approx 11 years.
His actions are what is wrong with America today. And some wonder what started the OWS movement....take a good look, it is people like him that commit crimes of greed and corruption. He is only sorry now that he has been caught otherwise he would still be doing what he does best, taking advantage of an elected position in our government.
Wrong, this is why the tea party is around, to much government power and corruption. OWS is about business which has nothing to do with blago.
Bubba at the state pen has been anxiously awaiting Blago's arrival by waxing his AIDS infested throbber nightly. Just make sure Blago gets normal general population treatment so that Bubba and Blago interact regularly.
AIDS infested throbber! Wowie does that ever sound like a "joy ride" for governor Blagab tch.
Life for this MTF!!!
Make him a deal: he can get out of prison just as soon as he's worked off all of the pork he charged the taxpayer. At $0.10 an hour, he should be out of prison in about, oh, 350 years.
I could care less if this rat dies in prison. The only thing worse than him are all the sycophant fools that excuse his every crime – these people are the real reason Chicago politics is so corrupted. You get what you tolerate.
Yes, he is "unbelievably" sorry and the judge agrees that he is unbelievable. That is worth 14 years.
Supposedly they are investigating Jesse Jackson Jr, for offering to buy the senate seat, should he not be prosecuted also, but we know he won't be. How about all the elected officials that had family and friends buy bank stocks just before they approved 750billion for them to steal from the goverment. Shouldn't that be crime, but it isn't it is just unethical. Too bad blago didn't want to play the games that others wanted him to do. He did not want to raise taxes, he provided healthcare that many children needed.
Senators and house representatives profiting on insider trading is not a crime, there is a whole series of articles on this in the wsj. In fact, there is a bill in the senate and house trying to make this a crime, the funny part is only 9 representatives orgionally supported it but after the wsj articles, suddenly a majority support it. We need more FACTUAL, "good" reporting to keep our corrupt government in line.
One crooked politician is sensationalized as the others go about their biz hardly noticed. It's like when they find one of the over 500 children per day that go unnacounted for.
glad to hear hes going to jail. everyone in Illinois pretty much knew he was up to no good the entire time he was in office. sadly Chicago reelected him and allowed it to continue.
14 years for blatently crossing the line in trying to receive benefits for himself, friends and family while so many other politicians don't even get indicted for slightly crossing the line in trying to receive benefits for himself, friends and family?
Blago was guilty, but 14 years is crazy for what he actually did. Seems more of a reprimand on his lack of repetance rather than appropriate for the crime.
I completely agree! The piece of crap should loss his career and pay lots of money in fines and spend a year or two, but 14 years??? This is what is wrong with our country, try and rip off the governement and you get 14 years, kill someone and you get 12????????????? What a JOKE this countries justice system is!!!!!
Next question: How much did Obama know about what Blago was doing?
great question. probably some but without proof cant really say
His stupidity to do such common place thing openly. People at Capitol Hill did this kind of thing more subtle ways. He should learn it from Newt.
What??? Proof read please!!!