Saturday, August 21, 2010

Rod Blagojevich gets only a single guilty verdict

The trial of disgraced former governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich has just concluded. Two weeks of deliberation left the grand jury giving a single guilty verdict out to him. One count of lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation was given to Blagojevich. There hasn't been sentencing yet, although five years might be given because of the false statements the government received from him. Already there is a plan in action to re-try Blagojevich by Federal prosecutors. Article source – Rod Blagojevich gets only a single guilty verdict by Personal Money Store.

Jury renders verdict after two weeks

It was about two years ago when Rod Blagojevich was arrested because he tried selling the U.S. Senate seat that Barack Obama left empty. This led him to be impeached and removed from office. He faced 24 different accusations of corruption. After two weeks, the jury, which had been mostly deadlocked before then, came back with only one clear verdict. The account of giving false information to the FBI was what he was announced guilty on while the other 23 were declared as mistrial.

U.S. Attorney wants a retrial

According to the New York Times, officials from the U.S. Attorney’s office said they will attempt to retry Blagojevich. A lie to the FBI was what he was convicted of. Up to $ 250,000 in a fine or five years in prison can be given to him because of this federal crime. Many hope both will happen.

Blagojevich seen as stereotypical Chicago politician

Politics in Chicago are typically corrupt. Rod Blagojevich has a previous governor, George Ryan, who was convicted after being removed from office. Federal prison now holds Ryan because of the corruption he did. It’s unknown what the fate of Rod Blagojevich can be, as he still has a second trial in his future. He could end up serving all five years in prison.



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