Judges to hear arguments in Blagojevich appeal

[DonViejo]

Source: AP/via Salon


MICHAEL TARM, ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO (AP) — Imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday gets what’s likely his last chance to win his freedom as a three-judge federal panel hears oral arguments in his appeal.

A lawyer for the disgraced Illinois Democrat steps before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to ask that it toss Blagojevich’s corruption convictions.

Short of that, Blagojevich’s defense team hopes the court will at least agree to reduce his 14-year prison term — one of the longest sentences ever imposed for political corruption in a state where four of the last seven governors ended up in prison.

FBI agents arrested then-Gov. Blagojevich five years ago this week, on Dec. 9, 2008. A jury convicted him of wide-ranging charges in 2011, including for trying to profit from his power to name someone to President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat.

:::snip:::

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/12/13/judges_to_hear_arguments_in_blagojevich_appeal/

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Key arguments in Blagojevich appeal

ASSOCIATED PRESS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

:::snip:::

— Blagojevich had engaged in legal, run-of-the-mill “political horse-trading” as he sought a Cabinet seat, an ambassadorship or some other high-paying job for himself in exchange for appointing someone the U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president.

— Trial Judge James Zagel wrongly added years to Blagojevich’s sentence as a result of $1.5 million in campaign contributions that supporters of then-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. allegedly offered if Blagojevich named Jackson to Obama’s seat. The appeal says there’s no proof such an offer was “accepted, negotiated or even entertained by Blagojevich.”

— Zagel allowed one juror — referred to only as Juror No. 174 — to remain on the panel during Blagojevich’s second, decisive trial, even after he said about Blagojevich during jury selection that, “I just figured him, possibly, to be guilty.”

— Zagel erred by not allowing Blagojevich to argue at his trial that, whether or not he broke the law, he acted in good faith and always thought his actions were legal.

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http://www.salon.com/2013/12/13/key_arguments_in_blagojevich_appeal/

[seveneyes]

1. four of the last seven governors ended up in prison

Not really a good record to hold.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. Glass half empty?

Hey, three of the last seven did NOT end up in prison.

Let's not forget THAT!

[gussmith]

2. What a Fool

Blagojevich has had five miserable years since his arrest in 2008. That is more payment than we have extracted from those who stole a presidential election, started a war, and opened an immoral prison. I care only that his kids have paid enough. Time to find other punishment other than removed from the kids. Remember, the mother is a wench too.

[QuestForSense]

3. Say what you will, his was a political lynching, pure and simple.

There's a joke here that the way they went after him was as dirty as the tobacco-stained dentures of Judy Barr-Topinka. She's the state comptroller and one of his ugliest, most vituperative enemies. Believe me, he made his own enemies, but his biggest mistake was making enemies of his fellow politicians. They are the dirtiest people on the face of the earth and will make you pay for that mistake all the way down to hell. And that's pretty much exactly the way it played out.

[murielm99]

4. I blame more of it on Madigan than Judy.

Blago crossed one of the most powerful Democrats in the state, and the country. I don't think most people realize how powerful Madigan is. His name is not a household word, like Rove's. I believe Rove lost a lot of punch when everyone started to know who he was. I am not referring to political junkies, like us, but to ordinary people who pay little attention to politics.

The whole state of Illinois is run by powerful political families, both Democratic and republican. Some of them are talented people. Some simply have the right last name.

Ryan is not in jail any more. And, unlike George, no one died when Blago lied. It is time to release Blago.

[QuestForSense]

5. I agree 100% with what you've said here.

Madigan keeps a deliberately low profile with the public. Topinka has, most likely, been his mouthpiece all along. Rove shed the last ounce of credibility he had left on election eve.