Rod Blogjevich To Become 4th Illinois Governor To Go To Jail Since 1973
The governor tried to auction off the appointment to President Obama’s former Senate seat, and now justice has come.
CHICAGO (AP) — A jury convicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday of nearly all the corruption charges against him, including that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.
Blagojevich had faced 20 charges, including the Senate seat allegation and that he schemed to shake down executives for campaign donations. He was convicted on all charges regarding the Senate seat.
Jurors delivered their verdicts Monday after deliberating nine days.
Blagojevich had testified for seven days, denying wrongdoing. Prosecutors said he lied and the proof was on FBI wiretaps. Those included a widely parodied clip in which Blagojevich calls the Senate opportunity “f—— golden.”
Blagojevich is the latest in what is becoming a tradition in Illinois politics. Once sentenced, he’ll be the fourth Governor of Illinois to get jail time since 1973.
Tags: illinois, rod blagojevich
