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John Gress / Reuters
Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich leaves his Chicago home for the second day of his sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
CHICAGO - Update, 1:30 p.m. ET: Judge sentences ousted Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison for corruption.
Update, 1:25 p.m. ET: Judge Zagel says he is considering issuing a 12.5 to 15.5-year jail sentence, NBC reports.
Update, 1:20 p.m. ET: Judge Zagel says "Blagojevich's staff did not march him down this criminal path. He marched them." He also says Blago's acceptance of responsibility will mean he will reduce his sentence, NBC News in Chicago reports. Sentence has not yet been handed down.
Update, 1 p.m. ET: The court has been called back into session, NBC reports. Judge James Zagel has asked the defendant to rise so he can announce the sentence.
Update, 12:45 p.m. ET: Before the court took 20-minute recess, Blagojevich told the judge, "I have nobody to blame but myself," reports NBC News. "I'm not blaming anybody. I realize I was mistaken. I realize the things that I thought were permissible were not."
Blagojevich also expressed remorse over the damage he's caused to his children.
My "kids have to face the fact that their father is a convicted felon," he said. "And it's not like their name is Smith. They can't hide."
Update, 12:20 p.m. ET: Rod Blagojevich has told the judge at his sentencing hearing that he acknowledges his crimes and is "unbelievably sorry." He says the mistakes he's made have been "terrible mistakes."
The impeached Illinois governor spoke Wednesday as he waits to learn his punishment on charges that include trying to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.
Blagojevich's attorneys admitted for the first time Tuesday that he is guilty of corruption and accepts the verdicts against him, but said the sentence of 15 to 20 years prosecutors want is too harsh.
Original story (published at 12:02 p.m. ET):
CHICAGO - After all his claims of innocence and facing years in prison, Rod Blagojevich let his lawyers make an admission that he has so far avoided — that he is, in fact, guilty of public corruption.
The former Illinois governor will get a chance to do the same Wednesday, when he is scheduled to address the judge who will decide his sentence.
Judge James Zagel signaled Tuesday he may be prepared to impose a stiff prison sentence, saying he thinks Blagojevich lied when he told jurors he never tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat for campaign cash or a top job.
Throughout the first day of his two-day sentencing hearing, the impeached executive-turned-reality TV star known for his jocular personality was somber and ill-at-ease, staring down at the floor. His wife sobbed as a letter from their daughter was read begging Zagel not to send Blagojevich to prison.
The hearing was a stark contrast to the circus atmosphere around Blagojevich's trials on multiple counts of corruption.
The conciliatory tone came as something of a surprise — just days after defense filings that, as many times before, stridently declared Blagojevich's innocence and said he had been duped by aides but never intended to cross any lines into illegality.
Attorney Sheldon Sorosky told Zagel it was illegal for Blagojevich to ask for a job for himself in exchange for naming Obama's replacement in the Senate.
"There's no doubt this is a crime to do this in relation to the Senate seat, we accept that," he said. "I am just saying that does not call for a 15- to 20-year jail" term as prosecutors have requested.
Sorosky made the same argument when he talked about the other crimes for which Blagojevich was convicted: shaking down a racetrack executive and a hospital executive, as well as lying to the FBI.
At Tuesday's hearing, Blagojevich ringed his hands and pulled nervously at his fingers, pausing occasionally to sip on a plastic bottle of Cherry Coke. Legal experts believe Blagojevich needs to express remorse for his actions when addressing the judge Wednesday.
Zagel, who has said he'll pronounce a sentence Wednesday, said early on during Tuesday's hearing that Blagojevich was clearly the ringleader of the schemes for which he was convicted and that he lied about his actions on the witness stand. The judge made it clear he did not believe a suggestion made by defense attorneys that Blagojevich was duped by aides and advisers.
"There is no question from his tone of voice that he was demanding," Zagel said of Blagojevich's comments on phone conversations secretly recorded by the FBI. "His role as leader is clearly shown by his actions."
And in a harsh assessment of Blagojevich's performance on the witness stand, Zagel said the former governor was lying when he testified that he planned to appoint the state's attorney general to Obama's seat in a political deal that is legal.
"I think this is untrue," Zagel said. "I thought it was untrue when he said it and I think it is still untrue."
Defense to judge: Think of his family
Defense attorney Aaron Goldstein pleaded with the judge not to impose a lengthy prison sentence — not for Blagojevich's sake, but for that of his family. In an emotional few minutes before proceedings ended for the day, Goldstein said locking Blagojevich up for a long time would devastate his wife and two daughters.
When Goldstein began reading a letter to the judge from Blagojevich's older daughter, 15-year-old Amy, the former governor suddenly seemed to fight to maintain his composure, fidgeting with a pen, biting on his lip. An attorney turned to gently pat his shoulder.
Amy wrote that she needs her father for all the things that will happen in her life — graduation from high school, applying to college and when her heart gets broken. In another letter, Blagojevich's wife, Patti, asked Zagel to "please be merciful" and said the punishment her husband fears the most is not seeing his daughters grow up.
Zagel seemed engaged in what Goldstein was saying as he described Blagojevich as a father. Patti Blagojevich began sobbing, tears streaming down her cheeks, then dabbing her reddened face with a tissue. She closed her eyes tight, tears still rolling down her face, when Goldstein played a tape recording of a giddy Blagojevich calling his younger daughter, who is now 8, and putting on a high baby-like voice, saying "Hey Annie!"
A second defense attorney told the judge that Illinois history of political corruption shouldn't count against Blagojevich. Carolyn Gurland said it would be unfair to Blagojevich for Zagel to impose a tougher sentence because other Illinois politicians, including former Gov. George Ryan and U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, have been sent to prison for corruption.
"The law is clear that he should not be punished because of the history of corruption in Illinois," she said.
If Blagojevich gets the 15 to 20 years in prison, she said, he would become the most severely punished public official in state history.
Prosecutors say the twice-elected governor not only shirked all responsibility for his crimes but repeatedly thumbed his nose at the U.S. justice system. Blagojevich's attorneys have said he has already paid a price in public ridicule and financial ruin, and propose a term of just a few years.
Gurland also argued that Zagel should take into account the fact that Blagojevich did not "receive a single penny" in ill-gotten gains, unlike other politicians convicted of public corruption.
"Rod Blagojevich received nothing," she said, adding that Blagojevich was doing what politicians do by seeking campaign contributions and not "money stuffed into envelopes."
Blagojevich and his wife knew they were setting themselves up for ridicule by appearing on reality television shows, she said, but they did so to provide for their children. Blagojevich appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice," where he struggled to use a cellphone, and his wife ate a tarantula on the reality show, "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"
Blagojevich's sentencing comes just days before his 55th birthday and three years to the week of his Dec. 9, 2008, arrest. The jury deadlocked in his first trial, agreeing on just one of 24 counts — that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors at his retrial convicted him on 17 of 20 counts, including bribery.
Among the court attendees Tuesday were more than a dozen jurors from both of Blagojevich's trials, including both foremen.
After sentencing, Zagel will likely give Blagojevich weeks before he must report to prison. Once there, the man heard scoffing on FBI wiretaps about earning a low six-figure salary would have to take a prison job — possibly scrubbing toilets — at just 12 cents an hour.
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If I had been the judge in this case, I would have given Blago 5 year's probation. He should have never even been charged with a crime. The only thing he did different than other politicians is that he asked for a contribution C.O.D. (cash on delivery) instead of in advance of his favors, like the rest of the politicians do. I would have further informed the politically motivated U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald, that if he ever brought another politically motivated case into my courtroom, I would have him locked up for contempt of court.
AMEN brother. This district attorney had Mary Poppins for a mother.
I think every present and all wanaby politcians should have to spend a week or so in the BIG HOUSE so maybe they will realize what happens when they break the laws.
Should be a cake walk for Mr. B. The Democratic Party will find a way to get him released early and he'll be made an advisor to some lib.
Crazy.... if this guy can get 14 years for something politicains do EVERYDAY, you minus well lock up Congress. I will definitely NEVER WANT hold public office and do good for the public. Too much bearacracy, compliance and rules. Stick with business and I'll be a millionaire instead of in prison.
In another letter, Blagojevich's wife, Patti, asked Zagel to "please be merciful" and said the punishment her husband fears the most is not seeing his daughters grow up.
A$$hole should have thought of that before trying to take advantage of those he was suppose to serve. Thanks for playing next.
He is getting what deserves that's for sure. i feel for his family and his daughter, but if a letter to the judge asking for no imprisonment would get everyone off, then everyone would be committing crimes knowing that a simple letter would get them off.
The sign language it looked like he was using is for a$$hole. Fits his buddy in the white house perfectly.
his wife ate a tarantula on a reality show? How did a man, so inept, become Governor of Illinois, and I would look to those in power, who elevated this man, and look into their integrity, for this man is not fit to run a corporation let alone a state...Or is he just another fallen scapegoat within our governmental factions surrounding us everywhere?
The only thing he is sorry for is getting caught. In his altered universe he is a Senator with Presidential aspirations. The real problem lies in the fact that he is not the only corrupt politician that gets caught, but that he will be one of the very few that may actually serve time in prison. Many more are either smarter and/or richer to cheat prison for their corrupt acts. Will he still get all his State Bennys; State pension, State medical and Life ins for life?
He's just one of the many Chicago based corrupt politicians! The Chicago Mafia group (including Obama) who will lie, cheat, steal, or do anything neccessary to commit unto themselves power of any kind to obtain riches that honest people won't or don't do. Anyone associated with obama and his czars that believe they are doing the best thing for this country, should be labled an enemy of the United States of America. They are traitors of the highest order. They lie & deceive for gain. This has to stop & the next election is the best way to do it. If it isn't done soon, the voters will only have themselves to blame.
This is just one more reason to really check out what these future politicians are about before you vote them into office. No one really checked out Oblammer (Barack Husseign obama) good before they made him the Messiah to the people. Is most of the media leaning far left, or just a little bit. Doesn't matter, if they don't represent the truth, and they don't, and appear to cover for these scum, then they are as guilty of helping to destroy this once great nation as anyone. They (The media)are the enemy of the people .
Maybe if he got a haircut he wouldn't look like such a sleazy piece of garbage.
The great majority of politicians are basically criminals. He just got caught. I'd add another 50 years to his sentence.
Newts another one, he has enough ghosts in the closet to scare the ghosts. Heaven help us if we don't start looking a little farther up the food chain than this bunch of clowns.
Blago. Another typical crooked Illinois political hack like Obama.
See his "poor" wife turn on the tear machine after Blago is sentenced. She is wondering how she married someone so unbelievably stupid. She'll be slinging hash at some eatery soon. (at best)
Gotta love how he does the "a-ok" Illuminati hand gesture. These days I don't think that crap bails them Satanists out of much.
This idiot shoulda thought about his family before his own ego, glory or potential gain. Rough for them, but too bad... Obviously the two can do better in both the spouse and parent department. Perhaps some day they still can to some degree, especially as far as the eight-year-old goes. As for the older daughter's concern for having daddy there when her "heart gets broken", stop and think a minute gal - just what in the hell does she call what her own father has subjected her to with his selfish actions...?
I wish the DOJ would go after ALL the criminals in politics as strongly as they went after Blago, starting with those from IL. Anyone who believes Rahm Emanuel is non-complicit in this mess with Blago and doesn't deserve similar incarceration is naive! Anyone who believes Jesse Jackson Jr. is non-complicit in this mess with Blago and doesn't deserve similar incarceration is also naive! Anyone who believes Pres Obama (via Rahm Emanuel) is non-complicit in this mess with Blago and doesn't deserve similar incarceration is really a naive! These are ALL nasty, criminal politicians who abuse their privledges and their offices of power day in and day out.
Blago deserves jail time. He also deserves justice and fairness from the criminal jutsioce system by having those others who were complicit join him behind bars. Of course, there is always a fall guy and in this case we taxpayers - voters - and citizens are supposed to accept this jailing of Blago and political white washing as a shiny example of our government working well.
I don't buy it for a minute! This harsh punishment on Blago alone tells me there were many others (I mentioned some & I'm sure Axelrod was involved, too) who should be going up the river with Blago.
Blagojevich is corrupt and now it's undeniable, but who did he really damage? What discourages me is that there are dozens of bank and wall street executives that have been much more corrupt in bringing down our economy and giving us a recession with high unemployment and only one, Mozilla of Countrywide, has been prosecuted to date. What makes it all the more disturbing is that they walked away with their jobs and $billions in pay and bonuses.
Blago's wife should be in a cell herself. She was no innocent at all. She was a wheeler & dealer on the other things they were trying to make money off of. They both worked secretly out of their Den of thievesthey resided in. His famous last words" I got this thing & it's worth more then gold ". Typical political corruption which people are fed up with. Insider Trading is next on the list of being investigated, Pelosi will really be mad at this one. Now you know why most politicians are not RED ,WHITE & BLUE when running for office when they have a fat chance of making more then their salary we pay them. Remember Hillary Clinton put up $10,000.00 & got back $100,000.00 the day before it dropped to nothing. Crooks & plenty of them within a 100 mile radius of DC. Sex, lies, insider trading, Martinis, Red Carpets and all the grandeurof a Mafia Godfather receives. Wall Street & DC are both in cahoots with each other. The Justice Dept I have zero respect for. They won't do their job or you would see about 15 ex CEO's on the chopping block in Wall Street. Ex Senator Chris Dodd all to well knows who can be bought by Wall Street as he was one of them.
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Blago is a scapegoat. The judge even said he took into account past corruption by other politicians in giving Blago a harsh sentence. He didn't do anything that the vast majority of politicians do. In fact, the people on here complaining about him and other politicians would do the exact same thing if they were in a position of power. Same thing with Wall Street bankers. People would do the same thing if they could become one of them.
I'd be happier if they could put all corrupt politicians in jail instead of making a scapegoat out of one of them.
Why isn't Bill Clinton in jail? He ran the most corrupt White House in my lifetime. Clinton and his cronies sold advanced missile technology to China in return for millions of dollars being funneled to the DNC. The DNC even returned several million dollars which in itself is admitting guilt. Now China has the technology to to sink our aircraft carriers before they can get close enough to launch their planes which was shown in their war games a few years ago. It means China can protect their North Korean friends from us.
How do you think Michelle Obama got her $300,000 a year job she had at the University of Chicago Hospital? Do you think Barry didn't use his influence with that?
Making a scapegoat out of one politician makes people so happy, "hey we got one", when it's business as usual for all the remaining politicians.
I also think it's so weird that when ever people comment on here about someone going to jail they also have to bring up "Bubba" and what what it implies. A lot of people have a weird obsession with jail house rape.
Bubba is an African word and I believe it means "first son or best son". It was never ment to have the negative connotations that it has been given. All of these politicians are criminals. Only Ron Paul stands as a testament to devotion, service and honor. Do you know he is an OB who actually delivered babies for free when their mothers couldn't afford to pay him? Finally, we have someone interested in changing a very broken system and most people don't even know his name. Vote Dr. Ron Paul 12 term congressman from Texas. Dr. Congressman Ron Paul For President.
Justice has been done - to a small degree. the man belongs to be in jail a lot longer than our current laws will allow. I doubt he'll spend more than a few years in prison. He represents the worst in political corruption.
Unfortunately, he won't serve anywhere near the full sentence. The man is everything that typifies corrupt politicians who severely damage our country, and he deserves to serve a very long prison sentence. My bet is that he'll be out in less than five years - if that.
Can anybody tell me why Bush, Cheney and Rham aren't in prison? Blago was bad, but, they and their cronies
are far worse. I have no sympathy for any of them ,save, the children. When a parent goes to prison, it is devastating to them. Blagos daughters had no role in any of his decisions and yet they are suffering the concequences of them. Children are always the innocent victims of a parents misdeeds.
Truly a shame.
Finally a victory for the USA,by the arrest and conviction of blagobitch ,now lets convict the rest of those crooks in our gov and send them to prison where they belong. Noone should be able able to be reallected over and over and over. If there so good how come our country is in such a shamble Wake up america! also @!$%# can the Electoral vote ,what a crock of bull@!$%#. How stupid can u get, all the electoral vote is the rich controlling our so called honest senators and congressmen and our gov. Wake up America!