Posted on 07/22/2015 12:03:26 AM PDT by SaveFerris
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal appeals court Tuesday overturned some of the most sensational convictions that sent former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich off to a lengthy stint in prison, ruling that the Democrat did not break the law when he sought to secure a Cabinet position in President Barack Obama's administration in exchange for appointing an Obama adviser to the president's former U.S. Senate seat.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago also ordered the resentencing of Blagojevich, offering the 58-year-old a ray of hope that he could end up serving less than his original 14-year term.
The three appellate judges dismissed five of 18 corruption counts against Blagojevich, while affirming 13 counts. In a blow to the defense, the panelists also suggested the original sentence wasn't necessarily extreme, even when factoring in the newly tossed convictions.
Speaking outside the Blagojevich family home in Chicago, his wife, Patti, told reporters her husband had expressed disappointment the court didn't hand him a clear legal victory.
"He's disappointed, of course," she said, the couple's 18-year-old daughter at her side. She added more optimistically, "Possibly this is a step in the right direction of getting Rod home to his family."
Several onlookers stood nearby, including a small child holding up a sign that read, "Free Blagojevich."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Wonder if there will be a pardon? You know, like some drug offenders?
What ever happened to his co-conspirator - the one in the White House he was dealing with?
Well, there’s Tony Rezko. And I believe, there was stuff to indicate Patty Blagojevich was the Obama’s realtor (buyer’s agent) on their house - the deal where Rezko’s wife paid full price for a lot, so the Obamas could buy their house at a $300,000 discount.
Probably all coincidence. Nothing to see here, move along.
May have been the last time Brian Williams did any journalism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiq5NB2AaBY
Technicalities about jury instructions, is all. Still convicted, still a guest of the federal gummint.
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