In making his decision Zagel said “these are serious crimes that had an impact on the people of IL”.
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“I experience very real sadness when I think of my family and I blame myself for that.Trying to make amends for that”, he said. Their father appeared to sob as they asked Zagel to have mercy on him.
As the judge announced his decision, Blagojevich could be seen on screen bowing his head.
A federal judge has upheld former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence on corruption charges.
Blagojevich has been in prison since March 2012.
Prosecutors have told a federal judge that the dismissal of five counts against Rod Blagojevich in no way diminishes the seriousness of his offenses. It was only toward the start of his second term in December of 2008 when he was taken into federal custody and charged with corruption for “conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits” over the appointment of the U.S. Senate seat vacated by then-Sen.
At the time of his arrest, prosecutors said court-authorized wiretaps caught Blagojevich offering Obama’s Senate seat in exchange for personal gain, including a job with a nonprofit or union organization, corporate board posts for his wife, campaign contributions or a post in Obama’s administration.
Blagojevich’s Inner Circle: Where Are They Now? She said, unless Blagojevich can accept responsibility for breaking the law, “there can be no rehabilitation”. He said being away from his family has given him something to work for.
The former governor’s brother said the judge should have given Rod greater consideration.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel resentenced Blagojevich at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.
The one-time contestant on Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” reality show wanted Zagel to sharply reduce his sentence to just five years, which would have meant him going free within months.
Blagojevich said he has come to recognize that he brought what happened to him on himself. He says he’s come to understand he made mistakes, but a full apology and admission that he committed crimes was not forthcoming.
Blagojevich apologized at his resentencing moments after he grew emotional as one of his two daughters read a statement in court in which she called him “an fantastic father”. He said the former governor never took a bribe, or accepted a gift from a political supporter or patron. He reads the Bible every night, they said.
During the years he’s been incarcerated, Blagojevich has learned to play guitar, according to court documents. She said it’s hard to talk with him about private things because strangers are always listening. “Although the defendant has apparently found the rewards of service, which is wonderful, he is the same man who appeared in front of you in 2011”, she said.
This picture of Blagojevich painted by the letter writers stands in sharp contrast to the former governor at both trials who seemed to work the crowd as though he were campaigning, signing autographs, hugging supporters and boldly declaring his innocence.
Blagojevich’s wife told reporters outside court that the resentencing was “cruel and heartless and unfair”. Blagojevich appeared via a video feed from prison.
Lawyers also submitted more than 100 letters from prisoners, some of whom referred to Blagojevich as “The Gov”.
But a year ago a federal appeals court tossed out five of those convictions.
Rod Blagojevich’s defense attorney says the former IL governor’s corruption case is “no longer about selling his office for personal gain”.
Leonard Goodman, Blagojevich’s attorney, opened up the possibility of taking the case to the Supreme Court. The counts that were thrown out dealt directly with his alleged efforts to swap the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the Barack Obama senate seat, in exchange for position in the new President’s cabinet.
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Blagojevich’s attorneys have asked the judge for a five-year sentence. Blagojevich, who must serve 85 percent of his sentence, is eligible for two years of supervised release.
