In what may be one of the more eagerly awaited closed-circuit television appearances by a federal prisoner, former IL governor Rob Blagojevich is expected on Tuesday to speak directly to the judge who sentenced him and ask to be let out of prison sooner.
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He was not in Chicago, but appeared via video conference from the Colorado prison he has been in. The resentencing was necessary after a federal appeals court dismissed five of 18 counts against the ex-governor previous year.
Zagel convicted the former governor of committing a variety of corrupt acts, including the attempted sale of Barack Obama’s IL U.S. Senate seat.
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 wonderful father”. “As I said four years ago, the fault lays with the governor”, Zagel said. They said he has repeatedly expressed regret for his mistakes but never acknowledged criminal conduct or admitted to doing something illegal.
It will be his first public appearance since he entered prison in 2012.
Judge Zagel ignored pleas for leniency from Blagojevich’s wife and daughters in making the ruling. Blagojevich’s attorneys had asked for a 5-year reduced term after a federal appeals court.
But government prosecutors wanted Zagel to re-issue Blagojevich’s original sentence of 168 months and 2 years supervised release.
The five counts dropped previous year relate to Blagojevich’s attempt to trade the appointment of U.S. Senate seat, which opened up after president-elected Barack Obama vacated it in late 2008.
“I am pleading with you, indeed begging you, to please be merciful”, she wrote.
Attached to the memorandum were more than 100 letters from prisoners, who called Blagojevich “The Gov”, and wrote about the positive impacts he has made during his time behind bars.
During his sentencing hearing, Blagojevich said helping other inmates helped him in return.
Blagojevich’s wife told reporters outside court that the resentencing was “cruel and heartless and unfair”. WATCH: Blagojevich family disappointedBlagojevich told the court his time in prison has allowed him to “grow his faith”.
“When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of IL is torn and disfigured and not easily or quickly repaired”.
Famously fastidious about his dark hair as governor, Blagojevich’s hair has turned all white in prison, where hair dyes are banned, his lawyers have said.
In her two-page letter, she described the pain of Blagojevich’s absence and how he has missed the graduations and piano recitals of the couple’s two children.
WATCH: Blagojevich attorney Leonard C. Goodman speaksGoodman said after the appellate court vacated five of Blagojevich’s convictions, his fellow inmates were asked to pen letters of support.
Rod Blagojevich’s wife and two daughters have arrived at Chicago federal court ahead of the former IL governor’s resentencing hearing.
A federal judge is set to decide whether to cut the 14-year prison term given to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich after an appellate court threw out several of his corruption convictions.
“I’m dumbfounded and flabbergasted at the inability for the judge to see that things are different than they were 4 1/2 years ago and his unwillingness to bestow even the smallest amount of leniency or mercy or kindness”, Patti Blagojevich said.
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A resentencing hearing is scheduled Tuesday in Chicago federal court.
