Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years in corruption case

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was convicted of a wide range of corruption charges, including the incendiary allegation that he tried to sell or trade the Senate seat vacated by President Obama.

5 Seconds

00:00

March 15, 2012

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich departs his Chicago home for Littleton, Colo., to begin his 14-year prison sentence on corruption charges. The 55-year-old becomes the second Illinois governor in a row to go to prison for corruption.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

March 15, 2012

Rod Blagojevich departs his Chicago home for Littleton, Colo., to begin his 14-year prison sentence on corruption charges.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

March 15, 2012

Rod Blagojevich departs his Chicago home for Littleton, Colo.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

March 14, 2012

Rod Blagojevich, with his wife, Patti, makes a statement to reporters outside his Chicago home one day before reporting to federal prison in Colorado.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters

March 14, 2012

Rod Blagojevich speaks to the media in Chicago alongside his wife, Patti.

M. Spencer Green / AP

March 14, 2012

Rod Blagojevich reaches over a railing to autograph a "Free Blago" sign after his scheduled address to reporters in Chicago.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

March 14, 2012

Rod Blagojevich walks out of his home with his wife, Patti, to speak to the media in Chicago.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

March 14, 2012

Patti Blagojevich, left, stands with her daughter Annie, as Rod Blagojevich signs autographs after his scheduled statement to reporters and his eventual departure for a medium-security facility in Littleton, Colo., for his 14-year sentence on corruption charges.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Dec. 7, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich leaves the federal building in Chicago with his wife, Patti, after being sentenced to 14 years in prison on 18 corruption counts, including trying to sell President Obama's old Senate seat.

M. Spencer Green / AP

Dec. 7, 2011

Patti Blagojevich, wife of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, sheds tears as she listens to him address the media at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.

Frank Polich / Getty Images

Dec. 7, 2011

Blagojevich returns his book that he signed for a supporter as he returns home in Chicago on Wednesday.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Dec. 7, 2011

Blagojevich leaves his home to go to his sentencing hearing Wednesday.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Dec. 7, 2011

Blagojevich departs his home with his wife, Patti, in Chicago for the second day of his sentencing hearing on 18 corruption counts.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Dec. 7, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich departs his home in Chicago for the second day of his sentencing hearing on 18 corruption convictions.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Dec. 7, 2011

Blagojevich leaves his home to go to his sentencing hearing in Chicago. Federal prosecutors sought a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison for Blagojevich, with a judge ultimately handing down a 14-year prison term, after he was found guilty of 18 corruption charges.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Dec. 6, 2011

Blagojevich talks with the media while wife, Patti, leads him away as they leave their home heading to federal court for his sentencing hearing in Chicago.

Paul Beaty / AP

Dec. 6, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich tries to talk with the media as he is led away by wife Patti as they head to federal court for his sentencing hearing.

Paul Beaty / AP

June 27, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich leaves the federal courthouse Monday in Chicago with his wife, Patti. Blagojevich has been convicted of 18 of the 20 charges against him, including all 11 charges related to his attempt to sell or trade President Obama's vacated Senate seat.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 27, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D) and his wife, Patti, arrive for the verdict in his corruption retrial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago.

John Gress / Getty Images

June 27, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, left, hugs a supporter as he leaves his home Monday in Chicago, heading to the federal court after jurors informed the judge that they had reached agreement on 18 of the 20 counts against him in his corruption retrial.

Paul Beaty / AP

June 9, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, speak to reporters at the federal court building in Chicago after the judge handed the case to the jury in his corruption trial.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

June 7, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich signs autographs as he leaves the courthouse during his second corruption trial in Chicago. Blagojevich insisted before jurors on Tuesday that he never sought to sell or trade President Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat for a top job or campaign cash.

Paul Beaty / AP

June 9, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich signs an autograph as he leaves the courthouse during his second corruption trial in Chicago.

Frank Polich / Reuters

May 26, 2011

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich arrives at federal court before taking the stand in his second corruption trial in Chicago.

M. Spencer Green / AP

Aug. 17, 2010

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich stands on the porch of his home on the north side of Chicago after being convicted on one of 24 counts in his federal corruption trial. Prosecutors immediately vowed to retry Blagojevich after the judge declared a mistrial on charges that he schemed to sell President Obama's former Senate seat and shook down businessmen for campaign cash in return for state business.

Eric Y. Exit / AP

Aug. 17, 2010

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald speaks during a press conference in Chicago.

John Gress / Getty Images

Aug. 17, 2010

Blagojevich's attorney, Sam Adam Jr., speaks to the media at the Federal Court building in Chicago.

Kiichiro Sato / AP

Aug. 17, 2010

The jury also deadlocked on four felony counts against Blagojevich's brother, Robert, who was accused of joining the plot to trade a Senate appointment for campaign money. He will also be retried.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

April 14, 2009

Blagojevich with attorney Sheldon Sorosky after his arraignment hearing in Chicago. Jurors said they voted 11 to 1 for conviction on some charges -- including, one said, the charge of trying to sell or trade Obama's seat -- while remaining far apart on other counts.

Frank Polich / Reuters

Aug. 17, 2010

Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, arrive at the federal courthouse in Chicago on Tuesday. A lawyer for Blagojevich's brother said attorneys in the case had been summoned to the courtroom.

Kiichiro Sato / AP

Aug. 12, 2010

Blagojevich leaves the federal courthouse in Chicago while the jury deliberated in his federal corruption trial.

M. Spencer Green / AP

July 27, 2010

Blagojevich arrives outside the Chicago federal court, where his lawyer Sam Adam Jr. gave his closing argument: "He ain't corrupt."

Scott Olson / Getty Images

July 27, 2010

Blagojevich's wife, Patti, and daughter Amy accompany him on his way into federal court in Chicago. On Wednesday, the jury sent a note to Judge James B. Zagel saying they have made "a reasonable attempt" to reach a unanimous decision and did so without rancor, but asked for guidance if they can't reach a unanimous decision on any given count.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

July 27, 2010

Blagojevich, seen greeting a supporter, was earlier admonished for being too expressive with waving and side comments during the trial. Shortly after receiving word on Wednesday that jurors may not reach a verdict, he returned to the courtroom smiling and not stopping to chat with spectators or sign autographs.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

July 26, 2010

Blagojevich is alleged to have turned the governor's office into a racketeering enterprise.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

July 26, 2010

The defendant autographs a copy of his book, "The Governor."

Scott Olson / Getty Images

July 26, 2010

Prosecutors say the former governor has had "absolutely horrible judgment" in friends and associates.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

July 7, 2010

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich arrives at the federal court building in Chicago for his corruption trial.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 7, 2010

Sam Adam Jr., attorney for Rod Blagojevich, arrives at the federal building.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 7, 2010

Robert Blagojevich arrives for the third day of jury selection in a federal corruption trial. Blagojevich faces federal charges that allege he schemed with his brother to sell or trade President Obama's former Senate seat.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 4, 2010

Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, arrive for the second day of jury selection in his federal corruption trial.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 4, 2010

Blagojevich attorneys Sam Adam, left, and Sam Adam Jr. and clerk Jason Wallace, right, arrive at the federal court building.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 4, 2010

Blagojevich speaks to members of the media at the court building.

M. Spencer Green / AP

June 3, 2010

Rod Blagojevich and his wife, Patti, enter the Dirksen Federal building for the start of his corruption trial in Chicago. Blagojevich became Illinois' first governor to be impeached on a vote of 114 to 1 in the Illinois House of Representatives in 2009. He faces numerous federal charges, including attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama after his election to the presidency.

Frank Polich / Reuters

April 20, 2010

Blagojevich, flanked by members of his legal team, holds a news conference in Chicago. His trial on corruption charges begins June 3.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Blagojevich was a contestant on the most recent season of Donald Trump's reality show "The Celebrity Apprentice." The former governor is pictured here alongside the show's other stars: Carol Leifer, Sinbad, Maria Kanellis, Sharon Osbourne, Michael Johnson, Trump, Curtis Stone, Cyndi Lauper, Bill Goldberg, Darryl Strawberry, Bret Michaels, Selita Ebanks, Summer Sanders and Holly Robinson Peete.

Mitch Haaseth / NBC Universal

Dec. 8, 2009

Blagojevich talks to a customer as he signs a copy of his book, "The Governor," in Chicago.

M. Spencer Green / AP

Sept. 9, 2009

Blagojevich and his wife, Patti Blagojevich, with "The View" co-host Joy Behar, left, during an appearance on the daytime talk show.

Steve Fenn / AP

April 14, 2009

Amid a media frenzy, the former Illinois governor leaves a federal court building after his arraignment on federal corruption charges.

M. Spencer Green / AP

March 25, 2009

Blagojevich listens to a caller as he guest-hosts a talk show at the Chicago studio of WLS-AM. The radio station announced Wednesday that the former governor's own Sunday radio show will go on hiatus until the conclusion of the trial.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

March 25, 2009

The former governor poses with Second City actor Joey Bland, who plays Blagojevich in a production that lampoons the politician and his antics. Last year, Blagojevich appeared in a cameo during a performance of "Rod Blagojevich Superstar," making a few jokes of his own.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Feb. 3, 2009

In this photo released by CBS, Blagojevich shares a laugh with host David Letterman on the "Late Show" set.

Jeffery R. Staab / AP

Jan. 29, 2009

Blagojevich looks up at Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald before delivering his closing argument at his impeachment trial in Springfield, Ill.

Seth Perlman / AP

Jan. 29, 2009

State worker Derek Needham removes a board containing the photo of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich after the politician was removed from office. He was overwhelming convicted at his impeachment trial.

Jeff Roberson / AP

Jan. 26, 2009

CNN's Larry King interviews Blagojevich during a broadcast of "Larry King Live."

Lorenzo Bevilaqua / AP

Jan. 14, 2009

Before he was ousted from the governorship, Blagojevich presided over the swearing-in of the Illinois Senate in Springfield.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Dec. 30, 2008

Before his impeachment, Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Dec. 17, 2008

Blagojevich goes for a jog near his home in Chicago.

Paul Beaty / AP

Dec. 10, 2008

Blagojevich leaves his home via a back alley a day after he was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Mark Carlson / AP

July 17, 2005

Then-Gov. Blagojevich high-fives fellow Cubs fan Matt Frano to celebrate their team's home run during a game at Wrigley Field.

/ John Gress for The Washington Post

June 2, 2005

Elique Winfield, 6, smiles as she tousles Blagojevich's hair during his visit to the St. Vincent de Paul Center in Chicago.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Aug. 16, 2003

Blagojevich marches in the Indian community's Independence Day parade in Chicago. He appears with Harish M. Bhatt, Raghuveer Nayak and Rajinder Bedi.

Alex Garcia / AP

July 17, 2003

Blagojevich signs legislation that requires the taping of interrogations and confessions in murder cases. Standing beside him is Aaron Patterson, who spent 13 of his 17 years in prison on death row after a wrongful conviction.

M. Spencer Green / AP

Oct. 24, 2002

Before his 2002 election, Blagojevich squared off against Republican candidate Jim Ryan in a debate at a Chicago television station.

Stephen J. Carrera / AP

March 19, 2002

Blagojevich thanks supporters in Chicago after he received the Democratic Party's nomination for Illinois governor.

M. Spencer Green / AP

Aug. 16, 2001

Blagojevich and Roland Burris share a laugh at the Illinois State Fair in 2002. At the time, both were Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

Seth Perlman / AP

May 3, 1999

During his stint as a congressman representing Chicago, Blagojevich addressed a crowd at Andrews Air Force Base after the Rev. Jesse Jackson had secured the unconditional release of three American POWs in Serbia. Blagojevich is of Serbian heritage.

Joe Marquette / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

Toronto Blue Jays' Yunel Escobar is forced out at second base by Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Toronto. Chicago won 7-2. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Vincent Elkaim)

MLB power rankings

Dave Sheinin evaluates the best teams in Major League Baseball. (All stats/records through Thursday)

A mural of Albert Einstein decorates a school's wall where a woman talks on the phone in the Complexo de Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Putin protest, South African police shoot miners, a silicone-based robot and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Gov. Ronald Reagan of California, temporary chairman of the Republican National Convention, turns the gavel over to the permanent chairman, Rep. Gerald R. Ford, of Michigan, at the session in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, August 22, 1972. (AP Photo)

A look at past Republican National Conventions

From 1940’s controversial nomination of Wendell Willkie and 1952’s bitter feud between Dwight Eisenhower and Robert A. Taft to Alf...

Singer Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Motown female singing group The Supremes, arrives as a guest at the premiere of the new film 'Sparkle' starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston in Hollywood August 16, 2012. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Mary Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Bill Nighy, John Malkovich and other celebrities.

An unidentified woman protests against the police near a shooting scene at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, Friday, Aug. 17, 2012. Police chief Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega says 34 miners died and another 78 were wounded when police opened fire on strikers in one of the worst police shootings in South Africa since apartheid. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Striking miners shot, killed in South Africa

In one of the worst shootings by South African authorities since the end of the apartheid era, police opened fire Thursday on striking miners...

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

The last time Washington was this good . . .

The Nationals have had the best record in baseball in August, starting to erase memories hardened by decades of mediocrity. Here are clues to...

Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.