The trial of disgraced previous 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. Sentencing will soon follow, and he could face up to five years in prison for giving false statements to government officials. Federal prosecutors have decided to re-try Blagojevich already.
Wait for two weeks for the verdict
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. In the time between then and the verdict, he was impeached and removed from office. He faced 24 different accusations of corruption. There was a clear verdict given after two weeks of thinking. The account of giving false details to the FBI was what he was announced guilty on when the other 23 were announced as mistrial.
U.S. Attorney fights to get a retrial
U.S. Attorney’s office officials have claimed a retrial of Blagojevich are near, reports New York Times. A lie to the FBI was what he was convicted of. Making false statements to the FBI is a federal crime, which carries a fine of up to $ 250,000 or up to five years in prison, or both. Some hope that he could be given both.
Balgojevich as Chicago stereotype
Politics in Chicago are typically corrupt. George Ryan was removed from office and convicted also, as Rod Blagojevich’s previous governor. Ryan was convicted of corruption putting him in federal prison. Rod Blagojevich has an additional possible trial in his future making it hard to say where he’ll end up. Five years in prison could be where his life goes.
