Blagojevich guilty
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: June 28, 2011
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been found guilty on 17 of the 20 corruption charges against him.
"One of the many lessons that I've learned from this whole experience is to try to speak a little bit less, so I'm going to keep my remarks kind of short. Patti and I are obviously very disappointed, in the outcome and I frankly am stunned, there's not much left to say," he said after the verdict was announced.
The jury found Blagojevich guilty of all eleven charges connected to what prosecutors say was his attempt to sell or trade President Obama's former Senate seat, news that some legal analysts expected.
"The counts were significant, the details were significant, the Governor's explanations to the jury I think were not believable," said legal analyst Professor Richard Kling.
Jurors at Blagojevich's first trial came back deadlocked after 14 days of deliberation and agreed on just one of 24 counts.
This time Blagojevich testified for seven days and denied wrongdoing.
Prosecutors said Blagojevich lied and that the proof was on FBI wiretaps.
Blagojevich will not be allowed to travel outside Illinois without permission while he awaits sentencing.
Blagojevich had already faced up to five years in prison after jurors in his first trial convicted him of lying to the FBI.
After Monday's verdict, he now faces up to 300 years behind bars, but sentencing guidelines will likely reduce his jail time.
