Blagojevich won a chance at resentencing after an appellate court previous year vacated five of the 18 charges against him for his scheme to use his powers as governor to extract favors and campaign cash from other political operators.
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Federal prosecutor Debra Riggs Bonamici called on U.S. District Judge James Zagel to keep the 14-year prison term in place, arguing Blagojevich didn’t deserve leniency, noting that his corruption eroded trust in public officials.
Later, in the courthouse lobby, Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, told reporters: “Quite frankly, I’m dumbfounded and flabbergasted” that he received the same sentence.
Blagojevich’s brother Robert Blagojevich spoke before entering court today, saying his brother still has great potential.
Blagojevich still has his same full head of thick hair, but it has turned white because hair dyes aren’t allowed in prison.
Blagojevich’s attorney, Leonard C. Goodman, told the judge that “the arrogance and anger are no longer present in this man” and that he’s “been a model inmate”.
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. “The case you have before you today is different than case in 2011”.
Rod Blagojevich’s wife and two daughters have arrived at Chicago federal court ahead of the former IL governor’s resentencing hearing.
Blagojevich became the second consecutive IL governor convicted of corruption.
Federal prosecutors had originally sought a sentence of 15 to 20 years but his lawyers called that excessive and asked the judge for leniency, even as they admitted for the first time that crimes were committed.
“I am sympathetic to. how painful this situation is to them”, Zagel said, referring to Blagojevich’s family.
Blagojevich was taken into federal custody in December 2008, less than two years into his second term as governor. And on Tuesday, both of Blagojevich’s daughters are expected to testify about their dad. Blagojevich has been separated from his family since he was incarcerated in 2012.
“The future of my children, family and husband, lies within your power and judgment”, Patti Blagojevich wrote to U.S. District Judge James Zagel.
The resentencing hearing was scheduled for Tuesday after an appeals court struck down five of his 18 convictions.
After the appellate court’s finding, Blagojevich appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to toss his remaining convictions, including one for trying to extort a children’s hospital for a campaign contribution and lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“Please give Annie the chance for a normal happy childhood, that has slipped away from Amy”, Patti Blagojevich wrote of the couple’s two children.
Rod Blagojevich’s Jailhouse Rockers may have disbanded but their memory lives on in the ex-Illinois governor’s resentencing case.
EARLIER STORY: CHICAGO – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared on a courtroom video Tuesday in prison-issued clothing, his once dark hair now white, as a judge weighed whether to cut his 14-year sentence after an appeals court threw out some convictions related to his alleged attempt to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.
The defense has asked for a five-year term, citing the dropped counts and Blagojevich’s exemplary prison behavior.
The band, however, broke up after the lead guitarist was released from prison. “Blagojevich is the only one in modern history in prison for breaking the rules of political fundraising”.
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Blagojevich, the wife of imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is one of several people pleading for mercy for the disgraced governor, according to new documents released Monday evening.
