Blagojevich Reaction: "I'm Very Surprised."

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 27, 2011 9:45PM

For the first time in memory, Rod Blagojevich was actually speechless as he left the Dirksen Federal Building. "I, frankly, am stunned" was all he had to say regarding his conviction of 17 counts of corruption.

When Blagojevich reached his Ravenswood home, he reiterated his shock at the verdict, but said the crowd of supporters outside his home was some solace. "It's meaningful to feel the support of the people, Blagojevich said. Even facing prison time and hefty fines, Blagojevich worked to burnish his legacy. "I want the people to know that I fought real hard for them."

The members of the jury said that they didn't come to these verdicts lightly. To a juror, each said that they found Blagojevich personable but that they were guided by what he said on the tapes. A woman identified as Juror 103 -- identities of the jurors will be released at 9 a.m. tomorrow -- said Blagojevich's personality on the stand "made it harder to separate that from what we had heard."

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called the verdict a "bittersweet moment," noting that five years ago a jury found his Blagojevich's predecessor, George Ryan, guilty of corruption.

Here are the counts against Blagojevich and the jury's verdicts.

Guilty
Count 1 Wire Fraud -- Solicitation of Children’s Memorial Hospital
Count 2 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 3 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 4 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 5 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 6 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 7 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 8 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 9 Wire Fraud - Solicitation of racetrack executive
Count 10 Wire Fraud - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 12 Attempted Extortion - Solicitation of Children’s Memorial Hospital
Count 13 Bribery - Solicitation of Children’s Memorial Hospital
Count 14 Conspiracy to Commit Extortion - Solicitation of racetrack executive
Count 15 Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Solicitation of racetrack executive
Count 18 Extortion Conspiracy - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 19 Attempted Extortion - Sale of U.S. Senate seat
Count 20 Conspiracy to Commmit Bribery - Sale of U.S. Senate seat

Not Guilty
Count 17 Bribery - Solicitation of construction executive

Deadlocked
Count 11 Attempted Extortion -- Solicitation of U.S. congressman
Count 16 Attempted Extortion - Solicitation of construction executive