Chicago Criminal Attorney on the Decisions Rendered Against Former Governor Rod Blagojevich

This Chicago Criminal Attorney posted earlier today about the jury failing to come to a unanimous decision on only 2 of the 20 counts.  That means unanimous decisions were made on 18 separate counts in the governments second bite at former governor Rod Blagojevich.




June 27, Chicago, Il:

A federal jury today convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on 17 of 20 counts, finding he brazenly abused the powers of his office in a series of attempted shakedowns captured on undercover government recordings.

Blogojevich showed no reaction as the jury announced their decisions, then sat back in his chair with his lips pursed and looked toward his wife Patti and whispered, "I love you."

As the first guilty verdict was announced, Patti Blagojevich slumped into the arms of her brother, who stroked her head. Before the verdict was even read, she had started crying.  She kept shaking her head "no" as the jurors left the courtroom.

This marks the second time in less than a year that the 54-year-old Blagojevich, the only Illinois chief executive ever impeached and ousted from office, had been convicted of a crime. The jury at his first trial last summer found him guilty of lying to the FBI, though that panel deadlocked on all the other counts. That impasse set the stage for a retrial.

Next will be a flurry of appeals and the defense attempting to stay sentencing I suspect.


Watch the video for immediate analysis in the aftermath of the trial.

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