Federal prosecutors want the judge to again impose the 14-year prison term, arguing in court filings that the vacated counts should have no impact on the sentencing range.
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Blagojevich was originally sentenced in 2011, following his conviction for trying to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash.
In 2015, a federal appeals court set aside almost a third of the convictions, ruling that improper jury instructions could have allowed jurors to convict Blagojevich merely for seeking a White House appointment from Obama in exchange for naming presidential aide Valerie Jarrett to the open U.S. Senate seat.
Rod Blagojevich said at his resentencing hearing that he regrets “mistakes and misjudgments” he’s made in the past.
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 has served four years.
Blagojevich’s younger daughter, 13-year-old Annie, told the judge Tuesday morning that she nearly doesn’t want to grow up because she wants to wait for her father to come home from prison.
A statement from longtime family spokesman Glenn Selig said family members are expected to speak at the hearing. Although Blagojevich was brash in his days as governor, prisoners portrayed him far differently. Blagojevich’s wife Patti and daughters Amy and Anne were in court Tuesday. Prosecutors oppose the request, stating that Blagojevich, who appeared on “Celebrity Apprentice” while awaiting trial in the sensational case, has failed to accept responsibility or show remorse. “What I suggest is the case you have before you today is significantly different from the case in 2011”. An appeals court ordered a resentencing after striking down five of his 18 convictions.
The first time around, Zagel took a hard-line approach to interpreting sentencing guidelines that help determine the range of prison time, siding with prosecutors in their initial calculation.
The Illinois General Assembly impeached and removed Blagojevich from office in 2009, not long after prosecutors announced his indictment.
As governor, Blagojevich was famously fastidious about his dark hair.
Rod Blagojevich’s attorneys are asking Zagel to impose a five-year sentence.
Rod Blagojevich’s wife and two daughters have arrived at Chicago federal court ahead of the former IL governor’s resentencing hearing.
“I feel I should be there to represent the Blagojevich family”, his brother said. Patti Blagojevich said she will have something to say at the end of the re-sentencing.
Adam said he is “cautiously optimistic” that Zagel will impose a lighter prison term at the hearing.
Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, with his wife Patti.
But the glowing prose from Blagojevich’s companions at the low-security prison where he has been locked up for 4 1/2 years likely will have little sway over the federal judge pondering a fresh penalty for the disgraced politician at Tuesday’s much-anticipated resentencing hearing. They even pointed to how Blagojevich, an Elvis Presley fan, formed a prison band called “The Jailhouse Rockers”. The group, which had a 21-song play list, dissolved after the lead guitarist was released. Another writes about the negativity and hopelessness in prison and said he enjoys his time seeing Blagojevich in the law library to get “my daily dose of encouragement”.
The 59-year-old Democrat will appear on a courtroom screen at the hearing in Chicago via a video link from his Colorado prison.
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In court Tuesday, Robert Blagojevich anticipates an array of emotions, saying, “They’ll be brotherly, feelings of caring and empathy for a guy in his situation”.
