Blagojevich gets 14 years in jail for graft
Source: Agencies |
December 9, 2011, Friday
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THE former governor of Illinois, Chicago, Rod Blagojevich, starts his day yesterday facing a bleak countdown - 71 days before he must say goodbye to his family and begin serving a 14-year sentence for corruption.
During those days, he will scramble to get his financial affairs in order and spend a final birthday and Christmas at home with his wife, Patti, and their two young daughters before heading off to prison to serve the sentence handed down on Wednesday.
The next time Blagojevich gets to spend Christmas or his birthday with his children - 15-year-old Amy and 8-year-old Annie - they will likely be young adults. Blagojevich, whose 55th birthday is tomorrow, won't be eligible for early release for about 12 years, when he will be around 67 years old.
"I've had a lot of clients who've had to start making preparations the day after they were sentenced," said Gal Pissetzky, a federal defense attorney based in Chicago. "But not a single one of them has been able to prepare for saying goodbye to their children."
Judge James Zagel sentenced Blagojevich on Wednesday on 18 counts of corruption, including his June convictions on charges that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama's United States Senate seat for campaign cash or a top job. The impeached governor must report to prison on February 16.
The Blagojevich's, who say his legal troubles also devastated them financially, put their home up for sale after he was convicted in June, and he would likely want to find a buyer before he heads off to prison. They initially listed it for US$1.07 million but reportedly lowered the price recently.
To make sure his wife can make those and other financial transactions on her own, Blagojevich will also want to make sure he signs necessary papers to give her power of attorney, Pissetzky said.
There's also the issue of an appeal, something Blagojevich and his attorneys can finally focus on now that the judge has pronounced the sentence.
Federal authorities must still make a final decision about where Blagojevich will serve his time. Wherever it is, Blagojevich will be largely cut off from the outside world.
It took two trials for prosecutors to snare Blagojevich. His first ended deadlocked with jurors agreeing on just one of 24 counts - that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors at his retrial convicted him on 17 of 20 counts, including bribery and attempted extortion.
During those days, he will scramble to get his financial affairs in order and spend a final birthday and Christmas at home with his wife, Patti, and their two young daughters before heading off to prison to serve the sentence handed down on Wednesday.
The next time Blagojevich gets to spend Christmas or his birthday with his children - 15-year-old Amy and 8-year-old Annie - they will likely be young adults. Blagojevich, whose 55th birthday is tomorrow, won't be eligible for early release for about 12 years, when he will be around 67 years old.
"I've had a lot of clients who've had to start making preparations the day after they were sentenced," said Gal Pissetzky, a federal defense attorney based in Chicago. "But not a single one of them has been able to prepare for saying goodbye to their children."
Judge James Zagel sentenced Blagojevich on Wednesday on 18 counts of corruption, including his June convictions on charges that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama's United States Senate seat for campaign cash or a top job. The impeached governor must report to prison on February 16.
The Blagojevich's, who say his legal troubles also devastated them financially, put their home up for sale after he was convicted in June, and he would likely want to find a buyer before he heads off to prison. They initially listed it for US$1.07 million but reportedly lowered the price recently.
To make sure his wife can make those and other financial transactions on her own, Blagojevich will also want to make sure he signs necessary papers to give her power of attorney, Pissetzky said.
There's also the issue of an appeal, something Blagojevich and his attorneys can finally focus on now that the judge has pronounced the sentence.
Federal authorities must still make a final decision about where Blagojevich will serve his time. Wherever it is, Blagojevich will be largely cut off from the outside world.
It took two trials for prosecutors to snare Blagojevich. His first ended deadlocked with jurors agreeing on just one of 24 counts - that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors at his retrial convicted him on 17 of 20 counts, including bribery and attempted extortion.
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