Blago jurors’ verdict: ‘Likable,’ but guilty
By Christy Gutowski, Dan Hinkel and Stacy St. Clair Tribune reporters
10:21 p.m. CDT, June 27, 2011
Describing Rod Blagojevich as a “likable person,” jurors in his corruption trial said they could not overlook evidence that painted a clear picture of a scheming politician.
“The evidence was overwhelming, really,” said Jessica Hubinek, 32, of Carol Stream. “When you have somebody recorded on a telephone saying something completely incriminating, it’s hard to deny a guilty verdict.”
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For many jurors, the case turned from tedious to tense within the first eight words of cross-examination.
“Mr. Blagojevich, you are a convicted liar, correct?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar asked the former governor.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-blagojevich-sentencing-06-20110627,0,4205826.story
Rod Blagojevich sentencing: Experts weigh in on possible prison term
By Annie Sweeney, Tribune reporter
4:51 a.m. CDT, June 28, 2011
On paper at least, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be sentenced to as much as 300 years in prison following his conviction Monday on 17 counts of corruption. But how much does he really face?
Seasoned criminal-defense attorneys and former prosecutors consulted by the Tribune estimate Blagojevich could be looking at about 10 years, based on recent public corruption sentences here. The sentence could take months to formulate.
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Blagojevich likely to lose state pension, keep federal perk
Ex-governor would have received $65K a year from Illinois
June 27, 2011|By Ray Long, Tribune reporter
SPRINGFIELD — Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich stands to lose a $65,000-a-year state pension as a felon, but he’s likely to be eligible for $15,000 a year in federal retirement pay for his time as a congressman.
The defrocked Democrat also would be eligible for a refund of about $128,000 in personal contributions he made to the state’s retirement fund.
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http://www.suntimes.com/6115903-417/the-20-counts-against-ex.-gov.-rod-blagojevich
GUILTY. Count 1: Wire fraud: Children’s Memorial Hospital. This covers an unrecorded, Oct. 17 call in which Blagojevich tells Children’s CEO Patrick Magoon an increase in state payments for pediatric doctors would be approved as of Jan. 1. Prosecutors allege Blagojevich was shaking down Magoon for $25,000 in campaign contributions. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 2: Wire fraud: Senate seat. This count covers a Nov. 7 call from Blagojevich to Chief of Staff John Harris and pollster Fred Yang, where the three allegedly discuss requests for personal benefits for Blagojevich in exchange for appointing Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to the Senate seat. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 3: Wire fraud: Senate seat. In this Nov. 10 conference call, Blagojevich and his advisors allegedly discuss requesting personal benefits for Blagojevich in exchange for the Senate seat appointment. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 4: Wire fraud: Senate seat. In a Nov. 12. call with Fred Yang, Blagojevich discusses the possibility of wealthy Democratic donors setting up a charitable organization, or 501c4, that he could head up, allegedly in exchange for appointing Jarrett to the Senate. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 5: Wire fraud: Senate seat. In this Nov. 12 call to union leader Tom Balanoff, prosecutors allege Blagojevich requested a 501c4 job in exchange for appointing Jarrett. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 6: Wire fraud: Senate seat. In another Nov. 12 call to Balanoff, prosecutors allege Blagojevich was requesting the 501c4 job in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett — and telling Balanoff to be careful about how he made the request on the governor’s behalf. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 7: Wire fraud: Senate seat. Prosecutors allege Blagojevich, in this Nov. 13 call with consultant Doug Scofield, requests the 501c4 job in exchange for making a Senate seat appointment. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 8: Wire fraud: Senate seat. Later that same day, prosecutors allege Blagojevich again requests Scofield ask for the 501c4 job in exchange for appointing someone to the Senate seat. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 9: Wire fraud: Racetrack executive. In this Dec. 4 call, prosecutors allege Blagojevich discusses extorting a racetrack exec for campaign contributions with friend and former chief of staff Lon Monk. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 10: Wire fraud: Senate seat. In this Dec. 4 call with Blagojevich, Yang and Deputy Governor Robert Greenlee, the three allegedly discuss getting “tangible, political support” — which prosecutors say was $1.5 million from supporters of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. — in exchange for appointing Jackson to the Senate seat. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
NO VERDICT. Count 11: Attempted extortion: Chicago Academy and then-U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel. Blagojevich allegedly demanded campaign contributions from Emanuel in exchange for making good on a promised state grant to a school in Emanuel’s district. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 12: Attempted extortion: Children’s Memorial Hospital. In exchange for approving a state payment increase for pediatric doctors, Blagojevich allegedly demanded campaign contributions from CEO Magoon. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 13: Solicitation of a bribe: Children’s Memorial Hospital. Alleges Blagojevich was soliciting campaign contributions from Magoon in exchange for the state money for doctors treating Medicaid patients at Children’s. Maximum penalty: 10 years.
GUILTY. Count 14: Extortion conspiracy: Racetrack executive. Blagojevich was allegedly conspiring with Monk to get campaign contributions from a racetrack executive by leveraging an unsigned bill on Blagojevich’s desk that would grant money to the racetrack industry. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 15: Conspiracy to solicit a bribe: Racetrack executive. Blagojevich and Monk allegedly conspired to get campaign contributions from a racetrack exec in exchange for signing the bill. Maximum penalty: 5 years.
NO VERDICT. Count 16: Attempted extortion: Illinois Tollway. Blagojevich allegedly demanded campaign contributions from road-building exec Gerald Krozel in exchange for giving state money to the Tollway. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
NOT GUILTY. Count 17: Solicitation of a bribe: Illinois Tollway. Prosecutors allege Blagojevich wanted campaign contributions from Krozel in exchange for approving a multi-billion dollar Tollway improvement plan. Maximum penalty: 10 years.
GUILTY. Count 18: Conspiracy to commit extortion: Senate seat. Blagojevich allegedly had an agreement with his brother Robert Blagojevich, chief of staff Harris and others to demand things of personal value in exchange for the Senate seat appointment. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 19: Attempted extortion: Senate seat. Blagojevich allegedly demanded things of personal value in exchange for the Senate seat appointment. Maximum penalty: 20 years.
GUILTY. Count 20: Conspiracy to solicit a bribe: Senate seat. Blagojevich allegedly had an agreement with Robert Blagojevich, Harris and others to solicit a bribe, including an offer of $1.5 million from Jackson supporters in exchange for the Senate seat appointment. Maximum penalty: 5 years.
http://www.suntimes.com/6211098-417/next-up-for-feds-powerbroker-bill-cellini.html
Next up for feds: Powerbroker Bill Cellini
William F. Cellini — a Springfield insider who’s been called “the pope” of Illinois politics — is expected to be the next to stand trial in Operation Board Games, the federal corruption case that will send former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to prison.
Cellini, 76, is accused of scheming with convicted Blagojevich campaign fund-raisers Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine to shake down a Hollywood movie producer by allegedly demanding $1.5 million in campaign cash for Blagojevich in exchange for giving state pension-investment business to the producer’s investment firm.
Cellini’s trial is set for Oct. 3. His lawyer, Dan Webb, said that a jury’s decision Monday to convict Blagojevich on 17 criminal counts “will have no impact on the Cellini trial.
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The next question is how soon will Obama pardon him for keeping his mouth shut on all thug things ‘Obama’...hmmmmmm......