Rod Blagojevich Convicted
The verdict is out in the second federal corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. His fortune wasn't as good this time around. The jury found him guilty on 17 of the 18 counts that it could reach an agreement on, including but not limited to his attempt to sell President Obama's old Senate seat.
The Chicago Tribune describes the scene in the Chicago courthouse as the verdict was being read:
After the verdicts were read, the former governor sat back in his chair with his lips pursed and looked toward his wife Patti and whispered, "I love you."
As the first guilty verdict was announced, Patti Blagojevich slumped into the arms of her brother, who stroked her head. Before the verdict was even read, she had started crying. She kept shaking her head "no" as the jurors left the courtroom.
[There was a video here]
It's been a brisk two and a half years since that early December morning when Blagojevich was arrested at his home, and the nation read his hilarious wiretaps for the first time. He refused to resign as Governor of Illinois, but was promptly impeached by the legislature. In the years since, he has been fired by Donald Trump on a season of the Celebrity Apprentice and hawked pistachios in those pistachio ads that hire famous losers. His wife, Patti, appeared on a season of Survivor. Several years of white-collar criminal trials can make for some serious legal bills.
Blagojevich faces up to 300 years in prison. Assuming he gets that maximum sentence, who will want to hire him afterwards?
[Photo via Getty]