Judge denies Blago motion on guilty count

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: ABC News

October 27, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Judge James Zagel denied former governor Rod Blagojevich's motion for a judgment of acquittal, arrest of judgment or new trial on his conviction on Count 24, lying to the FBI.

Blagojevich was convicted on one of 24 counts in a corruption trial over the summer. He was found guilty on Count 24, that he made false statements to FBI. Blagojevich's defense team filed the motion shortly after the conviction.

The jury was hung on the other 23 counts in the corruption case. A re-trial is scheduled for April 20, 2011.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=7748962

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. Judge refuses to nullify Blagojevich conviction

Source: The Washington Post

CHICAGO -- A judge in Chicago has denied a motion to nullify the sole conviction of Rod Blagojevich returned by a jury at the ousted Illinois governor's first corruption trial.

In a two-page opinion filed Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Zagel rejects defense claims that prosecutorial misconduct contributed to the guilty verdict against Blagojevich on the charge of lying to the FBI.

The judge says defense attorneys often blame the prosecutors' conduct when they are struggling to challenge a conviction based on law or fact.

Jurors convicted the ex-governor on one of 24 counts in August. He is set to be retried on the 23 deadlocked charges in April.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/27/AR2010102703670.html

[earcandle]

2. wasting tax payer dollars on lynching mobs and false trumped up convictions. Glad the folks in

Chicago are not totally fooled by the shenanigans of their
corrupt officials. 

One count out of 24 is not bad.  I hope Blago appeals.  

[davsand]

3. "The shenanigans of their corrupt officials" would be Blago's actions--right?

He's a pig and our entire state is much better off with him impeached. While I really understand the desire to protect an elected Dem, this particular case is not the place for it. Not only is he as crooked as a dog's hind leg, he's batshit nuts along with it.

My biggest question is how much cash did some of those jurors in his first trial get paid for their not guilty verdicts...




Laura (who actually lives in Illinois)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[BillH76]

5. Another trial? Blago has created his own personal ongoing hell.