Blagojevich guilty on false statements count (jury hung on other 23 counts)

ABC/WLS Chicago ^ | 8-17-10 | Paul Meincke

[STARWISE]

Former governor Rod Blagojevich was found guilty on only one of 24 counts against him. The jury appears hung on the others.

The guilty verdict was on Count 24: providing false statements to officers. After the reading, the jury was thanked and asked to return to the jury room.

*snip*

Before the verdict was read, Judge Zagel said that there may not be verdicts in all 24 counts with which Blagojevich is charged -- and that any counts dealing with forfeiture will be dealt with on Wednesday morning.

[onyx]

Merry Fitzmas!

Is it too early for eggnog?
- - - - - -
ROFL.

Too hot, maybe, but sounds really good for my headache!

Speaking of which, I will lie down for a bit. Please ping me to the good stuff and laughs.

[an amused spectator]

Fitzie & Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar should be brought up on charges of misappropriation of taxpayer dollars.

LOL! "Lying to lying federal thugs"! Whottaloadocrap!

[Fu-fu2]

“You bet he was a fall guy. The feds jumped the gun on this one to protect Obama, Jackson Jr., and emmanuel. Politics as usual in Illinois.”

I feel the same. In some ways, this is a good thing. If they decide to retry Blago, the trial will be going on in the midst of the November elections.

[Doulos1]

The fix was in from the start. Blago knew he was never endanger of any serious punishment. Blago was knee deep in the Chicago Mafia= Rafko, Obama, Ayers, Rahm, et al.

The jury was probably tampered with as well as a very ‘sympathetic’ judge. They read the paper too.

Larry Bland
Donald Young
Nate Spencer
Lt. Quarles Harris,Jr.
Bill Gwatney
David Kellerman
..........

[an amused spectator]

One “GUILTY”, 23 hung and Fitzgerald still wants to re-try him? What a waste of taxpayers money...

The taxpeasants won't mouth off about getting MORE money stolen from them to fund another fraudulent "prosecution". Fitzie needs to pump up that pension with extra time on the taxpeasant dime...

[Fu-fu2]

“It’s amazing how incompetent they are, everything was on tape and they couldn’t prove anything!!!”

Not everything—they pulled the plug before any of the big fish could be prosecuted.

[KeyLargo]

Fitzgerald should now go into private practice where he can defend miscreants that don’t have a dog license or something on that level of crime.

Lying to the feds is always the catch-all charge when the prosecutors do not have or have not established evidence sufficient to prove to a judge or jury that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Personally I think that such a federal offense as lying to the feds is bull crap and proves nothing more than the feds do not have a case.

Again more taxpayer money will be spent to re-try Blago when the incompetent boobs, FBI agents that did a so-called thorough investigation should be reassigned to counting paper clips or something else that fits their actual qualifications.

So another politician that should be spending years residing in the gray-bar hotel will be celebrating along with his brother.

The saying goes; a motivated prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich if they wanted to.

Some background here about lying to federal agents, for your reading pleasure.

How to Avoid Going to Jail under 18 U.S.C. Section 1001 for Lying to Government Agents

By Solomon L. Wisenberg

Solomon L. Wisenberg is a partner and co-chair of the white collar criminal defense practice group of Barnes & Thornburg LLP .

http://library.findlaw.com/2004/May/11/147945.html

[an amused spectator]

Would love to hear the reaction from the White House.

Only way Barry OMuslim would shoot his mouth off would be if there was A Victory Mosque involved...

[rednesss]

I have to agree, they can retry til the resurrection, doesn’t cost them anything, the citizen in the cross-hairs however has finite resources, and they know it. I think there should only be two options available to jurors, guilty or not guilty. Not 1)guilty, 2)not guilty, and 3)we couldn’t decide. Since you are presumed innocent, if you can’t convince 12 people that they are guilty, that should be it. No more bites at the apple, double jeopardy attaches.

[Mad-Margaret]

That retrial will be paid completely by the taxpayer — for the prosecution AND for the defense. The former gov is broke.

[maggief]

How does that FBI directorship look for Fitzie now? LMAO!

[an amused spectator]

The FBI incompetents generally use the “you lied to us” as a trap.

Yet the fed govthugs are allowed to lie to YOU all freaking day long.

[STARWISE]

NO .... ;) .. !!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former judge now saying the govt didn't reveal enough evidence and the judge kept the defense team from asking: why can't we talk about the others in open court .. as many as 80 objections a day on the issue. Great comments .. and COMPLETELY TRUE. It was a sloppy, farce of a case, Fitzie thought on his allegedly great rep alone, he could skinny the case and exclude and protect others. The jury can't be blamed for the junk with which they were presented. They did a righteous job.

WATCH LIVE COVERAGE STILL ONGOING HERE. That judge is BACK ... WATCH AT THE LINK!

[an amused spectator]

I do not condone lying, however, does anybody else find the charge of ‘lying to federal investigators’ just a little disturbing? Just one unintentional slip-up and they can throw the book at you. It could happen to anyone.

The Founding Fathers would have gone postal on them.

[an amused spectator]

The “you lied to us” is now a catch-all charge that is thrown in so that the jury can “agree” on, when nothing else can stick. It also perpetuates the power of the state over citizenry.

Yep. We officially live in a Police State.

[Mad-Margaret]

—”they pulled the plug before any of the big fish could be prosecuted.”—

That’s why all those charges were “attempted this” and “attempted that.” Jury didn’t buy it!

[STARWISE]

****Blago and attorneys on now on ABC Chicago link above

[Osage Orange]

There was at least one "ringer" on the jury.

No question about it.

Chicago politics....Nothing more, nothing less.

Lie, cheat and steal..!!!!

Think Obama, Rahm, Daley, etc...

[EGPWS]

The guilty verdict was on Count 24: providing false statements to officers.

That's an unlawful offense?

Pelosi and Obama are walking as free people when this is the case?

Well, at least he didn't lie about some stupid like sex to a Grand Jury.

[Dengar01]

BLAGO ON NOW!!! He is going after those F#^#$@#$ I can't WAIT!!! This is awesome for the IL GOP!!! GO BLAGO GO!!!

I wish he were still Governor the guy running this state now is the worst Governor in Illinois history!

Blago is the democrats WORST nightmare!!! AWESOME STUFF!!!