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Rod Blagojevich Found Guilty Of Selling Barack Obama’s Senate Seat

video

by Frances Martel | 3:21 pm, June 27th, 2011

» 17 comments

It’s been nearly three years since former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich stole the national spotlight after being arrested for dozens of counts of corruption, including attempting to sell then-Sen. Barack Obama‘s Senate seat. Today, after two reality shows, a mistrial, and an extended, confusing second trial for the former governor, Blagojevich was found guilty of 17 counts of corruption, including selling the President’s former Senate seat.

The verdict was announced today a little after 3 PM, after the first trial ended with Blagojevich not being convicted in 23 of his 24 corruption charges (he was found guilty of one minor charge of lying to the FBI). In this one, he escaped three of the 20 charges– one “not guilty” and two “no verdicts”– but was convicted of several counts of wire fraud and bribery, in particular the primary charge of selling the President’s seat. No word yet on how much jail time, if any, the charges will translate into. In the meantime, several Illinois media outlets have compiled “best of” retrospectives on Blagojevich’s rise to national ignominy; this one by Central Illinois radio station WJBC is particularly comprehensive.

The second Blagojevich trial, while receiving significantly less media attention, played out somewhat differently from the first trial. While keeping most of the comical shenanigans– threats for contempt of court, arbitrary deployment of the race card, etc.– that made the first trial a must-cover news story, the second trial also featured Blagojevich keeping his promise to testify in his own defense. The latter is a choice now many are considering a risk that brought down the governor, though the new sets of tapes produced on trial also did little to exonerate him. While he had several times noted that, after being found innocent of most crimes in the first trial, he was eyeing a return to politics soon, this now seems an impossibility– as well as his other side careers on reality television, giving ethics lectures, and singing the best of Elvis Prestley aside Fabio impersonators. Fare thee well, Blago, you gave the media as much joy as you gave your constituents grief.

Video of the breaking story via Fox News below:

ABC News, barack obama, Blago trial, Chicago Sun-Times, corruption, Illinois, Rod Blagojevich

lane

No one is above the law, Blago. Hde should share the jail cell with his predecessor. 2nd illinois governor IN A ROW to be found guilty of currption.
Moderate

Another Chicago politician bites the dust, the list gets longer all the time.
The Lantern of Truth

He tried to sell the seat to Obama’s friend , slumlord Valerie Jarrett or Jesse, Jr .
When will they be interviewed ?

When is the Tony Rezko trial ? What’s the holdup , Hmm . ?
Stratdude

Mediaite bills itself as a legit news source, even though the majority of its columnists are repug apologists, ie, running a “news” clip for this column generated by a fake news repug propaganda outlet.
Moderate

Stratdude said:
Mediaite bills itself as a legit news source, even though the majority of its columnists are repug apologists, ie, running a “news” clip for this column generated by a fake news repug propaganda outlet.

No one goes off the teleprompter as well as Shepard Smith.
GoneFishing

I notice the charge involving Rahm, who now just happens to be the Mayor of Chicago was returned as ‘No Verdict’

Well…I’m sure thats just a coincidence.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Denny-Flojak/1550780778 Denny Flojak

Stratdude said:
Mediaite bills itself as a legit news source, even though the majority of its columnists are repug apologists, ie, running a “news” clip for this column generated by a fake news repug propaganda outlet.

So go away! Bah bye. So long. Don’t let the door hit ya in the arse. Pack up the vaseline and head to New York, you can kiss the groom now. Waa waa waa, me no like not being able to find Keefe for my daily progressive refresher, but I still hate Fox.
Laddy Go-Rod

When Democrats DO what Democrats do,

juries find them GUILTY and throw them in jail.

=

-Democrats – happily DESTROYING America since… . …well, pretty much, always-
cjd ohio 1

Laddy Go-Rod said:
When Democrats DO what Democrats do, juries find them GUILTY and throw them in jail. = -Democrats – happily DESTROYING America since… . …well, pretty much, always-

hes a democrat, never would have known from the story above
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

These are like traffic violations compared to how the community organizer in the White House is bastardizing the Constitution!
LOGICandREASON

He’s a Convict, end of story.

Rod Blagojevich joins the very long list of convicted Democratic officials; hopefully he’ll be out before Piper Palin runs for President.
timcajun

LOGICandREASON says:
Rod Blagojevich joins the very long list of convicted Democratic officials; hopefully he’ll be out before Piper Palin runs for President.
…………………………………..
How much longer would that be, than a republican list of the same,…. “one” or none?
Alz

The Lantern of Truth said:
He tried to sell the seat to Obama’s friend , slumlord Valerie Jarrett or Jesse, Jr .
When will they be interviewed ?

When is the Tony Rezko trial ? What’s the holdup , Hmm . ?

It’s all being covered up. Imagine if Blago was a Republican and he was working with Rove (instead of Rahm) on selling the Senate seat. The liberals would be going BERSERK.

But they are quiet about Blago, Jarrett, Obama, Rezko, etc.

These liberals are so unbelievable – and corrupt.
Just my Opinion

cjd ohio 1 said:
hes a democrat, never would have known from the story above

He is never identified as a Democrat when being covered by the MSM!
But just the dumbass way he handled the (appointment, (ahem), to ‘Bamas
seat was a dead giveaway from the start!
Any Governor, D or R, would have gotten “something” for the damn seat!
Blog just coun’t shut the hell up!!
Steve_27

PresTley?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mary-Lisa/100002500848375 Mary Lisa

here is some thing special for guys check this out… http://tinyurl.com/hotnewz2011
timcajun

Alz says:
t’s all being covered up. Imagine if Blago was a Republican and he was working with Rove (instead of Rahm) on selling the Senate seat. The liberals would be going BERSERK.

But they are quiet about Blago, Jarrett, Obama, Rezko, etc.

These liberals are so unbelievable – and corrupt.
……………………………………..
Alz, you of all people know how long the lists are on both sides. You failed to recall Delay, Renzi, Stevens, Harris! I don’t see many defending the Blago, just because most do the same didn’t make it right.Going Berserk,.. some “teas” are still locked in a closet with a box of tissue and lotion over Weiner!