Rob Blagojevich, the disgraced former Governor of Illinois, was found guilty of lying to the FBI. The 23 other counts charged against him have resulted in a hung jury. The government’s prosecution is stunned that Blagojevich’s alleged ‘crime spree’ (as they have defined his activities) has only resulted in one only guilty ruling. The conspiracy and racketeering charges against Rod Blagojevich, which would carry the heaviest punishment, have not been decided.
When Rod Blagojevich left the court house, he spoke at length with the media. He stressed his innocence, thanked his defense team, and thanked the jurors for giving up their summer for this trial. He took the on-camera opportunity to blast the government's prosecution for spending so much time and 'tens of millions of dollars' to persecute him when there is so much more that needs to be done with the government's time and money in Illoinois regarding crime and more.
Sam Adam, Jr., the defense attorney for Rod Blagojevich, then stepped before the media, and he very emotionally said, "Blame me!" He insisted that his client is innocent and that he takes total blame for Blagojevich being found guilty of the one count. He said he didn't do his job well enough or Blagojevich wouldn't have been found guilty on that count. Sam Adam, Sr., another one of Blagojevich's defense attorneys, somewhat more calmly explained that the count of which Blagojevich was found guilty was a five-year old issue. He argued that his son, Sam, Jr., is not to blame for the guilty count. Instead, Sam, Sr. said that he, himself, is to blame. Sam, Sr. used his time in front of the cameras to call the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald "nuts!" It's apparent that Blagojevich and the Adams are ready to to appeal the guilty charge and to fight the undecided counts again.
Robert Blagojevich, the ex-governor's brother, had his four counts undecided which means there was a total hung jury for his chargest. Michael Ettinger, Robert’s lawyer, and Robert spoke to reporters at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago where the trial was held. They indicated that they are ready to go to trial again.
Much later, Patrick Fitzgerald left the court house and spoke very briefly to the media and said that he is ready to continue this trial. He also thanked the jury for their time. Fitzgerald's demeanor was strikingly subdued in comparison to his demeanor during the trial when he asserted that Abe Lincoln is rolling in his grave.
The jury, who reportedly looked relieved in the courtroom today, initially chose to not talk to the press. One of the jurors, however, later told the media that there was only one lone juror keeping other counts being filed against Blagojevich, including the sale of President Barack Obama's senate seat. This jury is now finished with their duties, and a new jury will be selected to continue the trial when procedures continue.
All the politicians, including the White House politicians, who sighed relief when Blagojevich's trial ended suddently three weeks ago are likely not sighing relief anymore. With the trial basically starting over again, all names that came up in this first trial - Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Jesse Jackson, Jr., and others - are likely to be brought up again in the new trial. It's already being suggested by analysts of the trial that imprisoned Tony Rezko may end up being a witness in the future, also.
Any further action by the Blagojevich brothers - the two defendants - will be very costly to them as Rod Blagojevich’s defense fund is reportedly drained, and Robert Blagojevich has been paying for his own defense all along and will need to continue doing so.
After Rod Blagojevich got home about an hour later, at 6:10PM, he was met by the press in front of his house on Chicago's northwest side. The ex-governor reiterated what he had said to the press at the court house downtown. Besides the press, a crowd of public supporters applauded Blagojevich, and he shook the hands of his well-wishers. Blagojevich's wife, Patti, somehow avoided the media circus at the house and was reportedly in the house already, likely entering through a side or back door. His wife has made no public statements.
The legal teams were told by Judge James Zagel, who presided over the trial, to return to court on August 25, 2010.
Source: CBS/Chicago news
Repost of former article from August 16, 2010, 5:14PM with the latest information
Comments
Mr. Blagojevich is an innocent man. I pray for him and his family and the eventual outcome of complete justice on his behalf. The government spent and will continue to spend tons of money persecuting a nice man of integrity who loves the people and only had good intentions to do good as a public servant. I have never ever been moved by any politician in my life, but I am moved by Mr. Blagojevich. I am certain of his innocence and will continue to pray for absolute justice for Mr. Blagojevich, not just for his redemption but for the eventual persecution of the government members who are trying so hard to condemn him.
Blago's incident should end here. Let the prosecution be content with one guilty conviction and more on to more important things to be done in our Illinois community. Enough vendetta already.
I totally agree. This has been drawn out long enough. Fitzgerald ought to be content with the one guilty verdict and, as Blagojevich said yesterday, use Illinois' resources for something else. We're spending too much money on Fitzgerald's need to do this guy in.
To see President Obama or Rahm Emanuel called to the witness stand in a re-trial would make a new trial worth it. Those guys are Chicago politicians and probably as involved as Blago, if not more so.
I hate to say it, but I think you're right! Every time Emanuel's name came up involved with that school and the school's money, it made me say "hmmmmmmmmmm..."
Sam Adam Sr. called Patrick Fitzgerald NUTS! LOL I wonder what Blagojevich called him? Probably dropped enough F-bombs on him to do some serious damage. LOL
BRADY FOR GOVERNOR!!
Just because one juror was a hold back, does not mean that this man is not guilty of the charges against him. From all accounts in the media, it was one juror, that possibly was overwhelmed & not capable of understanding all the legal manuevering that goes on. That juror should have brought it to the attention of the judge, and I am sure the judge would have agreed to release the juror, in plenty of time to bring in an alternate, before handing the case to the jury. End result a "hung jury"
As for the additional cost. First of all Fitgerald & crew are already government employees, thus already on payroll. That is what they get paid for! to work on behalf of the government , in other words "you the people"! These prosecutors do not receive added pay/bonuses for trying a case in court. So Blago gets retried; maybe this time the prosecution will consolidate the charges & make it easier for a juror to understand & not get overwhelmed. Think about all that is behind the scenes in the scheme of our former governor. Many people are already in prison-some have died -suicides? humm! If only Illinoians had paid more attention & Judy Baar Topinka had won the election, we would not be talking about this situation, and our state finances would be in a more stable road. On that note, this does not mean that Brady would make a better or healthier governor. Both parties have done deep damage to our state.. There are deep issues w/ both candidates at this time..
Scott, could you send me an email? leeklawans@gmail.com thanks
Has Illinois considered NOT having a governor? They'd probably be in less debt without one.
This is the best idea I've read about Illinois in the past 20 years. Why? Because I'll tell you, QUINN isn't your answer either.
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