Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison [UPDATE]

Image Credit: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Judge James Zagel sentenced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 168 months in prison for his conviction on corruption charges stemming from his attempts to appoint someone to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama's election to the presidency.

That's 14 years. Blagojevich served six years as governor. Zagel, in handing down his sentence, said, Blagojevich's abuses were "more damaging than the abuse of any other office in the U.S. except president" and that "the vast majority of the facts are not disputed. It is difficult to dispute what is on the recordings."

Blagojevich threw himself at the mercy of Judge James Zagel in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a stiff prison term. For the first time, Blagojevich at least admitted he broke the law, but insisted he didn't know what he was doing was wrong.

“I never set out to break the law,” said Blagojevich, who came to court Wednesday wearing a black suit with a silver tie. “The jury decided I was guilty, I am accepting of it, I acknowledge it.
“I have nobody to blame but myself for my stupidity and actions and the things I did and I thought I could do. I’m not blaming anybody.”

Many analysts believed Blagojevich's pleas came too little, too late. Blagojevich's antics during his two trials also didn't ingratiate himself with Zagel or prosecutors, who had requested a sentence of 15-20 years.

Blagojevich will have to surrender to federal authorities by Feb. 16, 2012 to begin serving his sentence. While Blagojevich is in prison his father-in-law, 33rd Ward Ald. Dick Mell, will support his daughter Patti Blagojevich and the couple's two daughters.

[Update] 2 p.m. Central time. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office released a statement that read, in part:

"Blagojevich betrayed the trust and faith that Illinois voters placed in him, feeding great public frustration, cynicism and disengagement among citizens. People have the right to expect that their elected leaders will honor the oath they swear to, and this sentence shows that the justice system will stand up to protect their expectations."

(A copy of the statement is below.)

Blagojevich also met with assembled media, said this was a time for he and his family to stay strong, to explain the verdict to his daughters, and quoted from the Rudyard Kipling poem "If:" "If you can meet with a triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same."

2011 12 7 Blago Fed-statement

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By Chuck Sudo in News on December 7, 2011 12:35 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Chicago Ranter

4 out of our 40 governors since becoming a state, have been behind bars. All of them within the past 50 years. Sad times for Illinois
http://chicagorants.com/362/th...

BioSlim

Hopefully, it won't work. The man tried to threaten newspapers that
didn't do what he wanted, and was out looking for bribes.

Adam Moreira

Talk about absolute gall! The arrogance probably got him more years...he never showed remorse.

InternetHandle

Sheeeeeeeeeee-it.

LICnative

Jackoff should have taken the plea. He would have done six months in Club Fed.. His hubris stopped him from doing the smart thing. If he's holding anything to trade, he better do it fast.

canofpeas

A 14 year "my lips are sealed" prison sentence, taking knowledge of the dirty laundry, including their very soiled panties, of the main players with you, is pretty standard fare in the U.S.

ANGRYGOD11

For years he has been saying he can explain it all, but didn't.
I would have some respect if he didn't hide behind his kids to try for fewer years in prison.
Your kids need you? How much time could a full-time politician, even an honest one, spend with their kids in this sort of career?

robingee

He spent the last few years being all jovial about his image. Not so funny now, is it?

Ramón

In a few years we'll see photos of him with gang tats on his neck and knuckles.
Pack your enema kit.

chuzzlewit

If you can only refrain from stealing that which isn't yours -
You may be able keep your sorry ass out of the joint.

Rudyard Kipling

ken_sanders

as guilty as he is, the justice system is so jacked up when he gets 14 years, but that woman who was painting her nails while driving and slammed into a poor woman on a motorcycle, killing her, gets night and weekend jail camp for 6 months. whoever that judge is, is really a piece of shit.

Tankboy

Or a woman who slammed into and killed three local musicians only gets sentenced to six years of prison ... and gets an early release after serving only three.

Navin_Johnson

It probably would have been less if she'd have killed a cyclist.

Dread_Pirate_Roberts

Yes yes, but what does Tank Boy think of all of this?!?

pipsnip

As someone from Chicago: FINALLY!

MrEricSir

Whatever happened to that "story" he kept saying he had that was going to explain everything?

Freddi BuBu

Did his hair get the same sentence also?

Adam Moreira

That hair needed the death penalty---that hair makes me cringe!

ANGRYGOD11

Yes, but it will serve time at the Sy Sperling Correctional Facility.

FIRE

Advice to Blago, upon entry into prison, immediately try to hook up and marry an alpha-male, or you will be passed around like a pack of cigarettes. That hairdo will be a big hit on the inside.

Nicholas

Do they even make "Conditioner on a Rope?"

ItchyGomez

Something will be hitting his insides, all right.

masterjarvis

im sure he is going to white collar prison and will have lots of friends inside and will do half the time hes actually sentenced to do because of good behavior and other things like that

Politburo

Good behavior can only cut ~2 years off the sentence.

Eric Luke

Why did the people of Illinois ever vote for a guy named "Blago"? He sounds like a corrupt politician from a movie. Except this is real life.