Chicago, IL – A federal jury found former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich guilty on Tuesday of one count of lying to federal agents, and the judge said he intends to declare a mistrial on the remaining counts.
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Prosecutors said immediately after the verdict was read that they intend to retry the case against Blagojevich and his co-defendant brother as soon as possible. He had faced 24 counts in all. Judge James B. Zagel set a hearing for Aug. 26 to decide manner and timing of the retrial.
The count on which Blagojevich was found guilty included accusations that he lied to federal agents when he said he did not track campaign contributions and kept a “firewall” between political campaigns and government work. It carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
Zagel said Blagojevich’s bond will stay the same.
Must be somekind of fraud. He gets away one count and rubashkin ….. Sheker
Congrats Blago! Not because I support I think u r a criminal and a moron bur because I dislike Fitz. Right away announces a retrial why what’s wrong with an overtime 14 day deliberating jury? Is it not good for ur political record? This jusy spent enough time mistrial it is hung jury it is end of story. I know u get paid from the gov but u don’t have to bring him down!
I guess it all dependents on the kind of lawyer you can afford
You can’t compare him to runsagkin. He has a big mouth that’s it! No evidence of violation of the law. I am happy he got equitted.
Also there may be some strings pulling by Obama he doesn’t want him to be on the witness stand.
reply to comment #1 :
It always comes back to Rubashkin here, doesn’t it?
Let’s get it over with: O.J. Simpson got off on murder, let’s not even take anyone to trial, ever, just set everyone free, because how is that fair? O.J. got off completely! Set Rubashkin free, and open the gates for everyone else as well, right? And close down the courts, because of someone else got off, everything is sheker.
Why don’t you compare Rubashkin to any of those who got much harsher sentences for much, much less?
No, let’s only use the examples of others who got lesser sentences, forget anyone who was treated more harshly.
What is wrong with you people? You can’t even read an article about a politician’s trial without bringing Rubashkin into it?
comment #1
Yesterday at 06:21 PM Anonymous Says:
Must be somekind of fraud. He gets away one count and rubashkin ….. Sheker
Reports are that a single juror stood between him and conviction on many/all counts. the rest of the jury didn’t understand why she did not see the evidence their way. If so, retrying him will likely end in a number of convictions.
The prosecutor will likely simplify the case to avoid juror misunderstanding. The evidence against him appears quite strong.