Blagojevich Jurors Have Reached Partial Verdict
Jurors have reached a partial verdict on former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat, among other allegations.
According to reports by The New York Times:
As they began a 10th day of deliberations on Monday morning, they told a federal court judge here that they had reached agreement on 18 of 20 criminal counts against Mr. Blagojevich, but were deadlocked on two others. An announcement of their verdict was expected after 1 p.m. Central.
Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat whose former aides say once saw himself as a presidential contender, was tried on charges of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery, extortion conspiracy and bribery conspiracy.
The trial was Mr. Blagojevich’s second on the charges. Nearly a year ago, another jury deadlocked on all but two of the counts against him.
This jury’s decision may end, at last, the spectacle of Mr. Blagojevich’s spiraling political career, which has played out here since shortly after Mr. Obama was elected president in November 2008.
Mr. Blagojevich, 54, and a lawyer and former state and federal lawmaker, was accused of trying to secure campaign contributions, a cabinet post or a new, high-paying job in exchange for his official acts as governor — whether that was picking a new senator, supporting particular legislation or deciding how to spend state money.
He has proclaimed his innocence again and again — on the witness stand, in television interviews and in a memoir he wrote.
If convicted on these charges, Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be serving Max B numbers.
More on the verdict as it becomes available.
