Blago Convicted on a Single Charge, Escapes (For Now) On 23 Others

By Alex Altman | @aaltman82 | August 17, 2010 | +

A federal jury in Chicago has convicted former Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich on a single count of lying to federal agents. That charge was the only one of 24 counts, which included allegations that Blagojevich tried to sell Barack Obama’s old Senate seat, on which the jury reached a verdict. After 14 days of deliberation, the 12 jurors informed Judge James Zagel that they remained deadlocked on the other 23. Prosecutors say they will seek a retrial on the outstanding charges. The maximum penalty for making false statements to a government agency is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but given the gravity of the allegations and the wiretaps the government had in its possession, Blagojevich has to be feeling pretty good about the outcome.

Related Topics: Uncategorized

@TIMEPolitics

Latest on Swampland

Barack Obama May 25, 2012

Audacity of Dope: Tales of a Toking Teenage Obama

We knew Barack Obama smoked weed in high school because he wrote about it in his books. What we didn’t know until Buzzfeed posted these choice nuggets (I’m so sorry) from David Maraniss’s new book on the President’s younger years, is the giggle-worthy details of his “Choom Gang” lifestyle, which are right out of a buddy stoner flick. Obama and his friends drove around the lush Hawaii countryside, hot-boxing their VW bus and re-upping with a long-haired pizza-tossing dealer named Ray, who Obama thanked in his yearbook “for all the good times.”
From our Partners
Obama Administration Blocks Global Health Fund To Fight Disease In Developing NationsHuffPost Politics

The Cowardice of Colin PowellSlate
Ryan Crocker Says Cases Of Afghans Killing NATO Military Counterparts Can Be 'Personal'HuffPost Politics
2012 Election May 25, 2012

Obama Stumbles? Why the President’s Right to Talk About Bain

The meme of the day in journo-world is that President Obama has stumbled at the outset of the general election campaign. The evidence for this? Well, uh, there isn’t very much, really–except that a few Democrats have criticized his campaign’s attacks on Mitt Romney’s record at Bain Capital and that Obama’s fundraising is merely humongous, instead of obscenely humongous. The two phenomena are linked, of course: Obama isn’t getting the usual haul from Wall Street because he has outrageously–outrageously!–tried to regulate the bankers who did so much to crash the economy in 2008. The handful of Democrats squawking are people who either (a) get money from private equity firms or (b) have retired and joined Mondo Casino. But there is another side to this story:

nflfoghorn

Teflon Dumb rides again…..
sacredh

“Blago Convicted on a Single Charge”

That’s a shame. I was hoping for several convictions and a lengthy stay in prison for Blago.
newfreedomblog

Well one is better than none I suppose. When you expose corruption for what it is worth, we expect that convictions should occur. But, we can rejoice yet again that our system of government, our fine men in uniform and those who go out in plain clothes find the criminals and put them in jail.
.
Democrat or Republican, whomever they are should be jailed and pay for their crimes. Period.
.
They shouldn’t be slapped on the wrist and told, no you were a bad boy or girl, go sit in the corner.
.
One thing we can all agree on both sides of any political discussion is corruption is one of the worst things which can happen to our country. We can affirm honor and integrity to this country for a change and elect honest people into office whether they have an (D) or and (R) after their name. That they are truthful with us, and they do the people’s work in all levels of government. That is the minimum expectation we can all have for our elected officials.
sacredh

It looks like Blago doesn’t have many friends on the left or the right. Maybe the dreaded centrists will dole out a little sympathy.

I’m kidding about the centrists. I’m not trying to start up more sh!t about them/us/they/he/you/he/she/it.
nflfoghorn

The ‘independents’ (read: indecisives) might give you a hug
m0mentom0ri

I disagree with you 99.9% of the time, Rutsy. This time I can honestly say, well said. I couldn’t agree with you more.
sacredh

I’m more of a leftist/liberal/atheist/socialist/wee bit centrist/libertarian myself and the hugs aren’t coming my way with any kind of regularity at all. I would hug myself and pat me on the back, but I really don’t trust me. I know I’d stick a post-it on my back that said “kick me”.
newfreedomblog

Gee momentoad, and you can still agree and throw in a slam with my name yet to boot. Mighty nice of you pal.
.
Could be worse tho, could be disagree 100% of the time I suppose.
.
Have a good night my little liberal friend.
sevenoaks07

For Now: let me understand this: Blago has been found guilty on ONE charge. The rest (local journalists) may not like this. He may have to face future prosecution. The jury was divided. Blago, for all his “faults,” shoved a pin up Fitzgerald’s bum. So can we cool it. We either beleive in the jury system or we don’t when they return a verdict we don’t like.

Blago is as a**hole. But he gave the finger to his detractors, and the juty gave him a boost. So: what is Chicago justice all arout?
lcky9

I am no Blogo supporter I didn’t vote for him a second time .. however he was set up by the boys in Washington.. did you know in the stimulus bill that was passed it said right in there that IL would get NO stimulus money UNLESS they impeached Blogo?? WHY?? I READ the bill so I know what was in there…it seems the boys in WASHINGTON wanted him out and the fact they didn’t get called in to testify it seems this WHOLE thing is BS.. Blogo is no more corrupt than the rest of the Politicians coming out of or currently working in CHICAGO/IL.. NEXT time will the boys from Washington testify.. Jessie Jackson.. Valere Jarret.. etc?? well maybe it will be AFTER the election.. and they LOSE..
stuartzechman

Of course I agree with you, Rustydog.
pdzxc

Fitzgerald should have indicted him for his hairdo – it would have been an open & shut case. He could have put him away for twenty years on that alone.
apr2563

sacred: Here’s an unconditional hug.
bobell

Yes, the jury was divided – 11-1 for conviction on many of the most serious counts. It only takes one person – however biased, however nutty, however unwilling to examine the facts or follow the law – to hang a jury when conviction requires unanimity. Blago owes his near-freedom to one such juror, who decided to give Blago a got-out-of-jail-free card on all but one count of 24. No wonder Fitzgerald plans to try again. He only needs one more juror next time to put Blago away for a long, long time.
.
And about that “verdict we don’t like” – there was only one verdict, and it was “guilty.” There was no verdict on the other 23 counts. That’s why Fitzgerald gets another bite at the apple.
.
If escaping conviction on all but one count when all but one juror is ready to fry your ass on several more is a “finger to his detractors,” what will you call it when they get 12 sane people on a jury instead of 11 and Blago earns his free stay at Club Fed?
sacredh

Thanks apr2563. It’s been a rough month or so. I’ve been bitten on the face by a spider, hit in the head with a 2X4, sprained a knee, had lightning hit our place and had a half inch splinter go straight into my elbow. Hugs are a welcome alternative.