Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) has been convicted by a federal jury on 17 criminal counts, including the explosive charges that he tried to barter or sell Barack Obama's old Senate seat, and that he attempted to extort the director of a children's hospital for campaign cash. He was acquitted on one count, and the jury hung on two others.
Blago faces multiple years behind bars for his crimes. He is the second consecutive Illinois Governor to go to prison. Stay tuned for updates...
Trouble in paradise.
UPDATE - A roster of the counts and outcomes, via Chicago's NBC5:
- Count 1-Wire fraud related to Children's Memorial Hospital-GUILTY
- Count 2-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 3-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 4-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 5-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 6-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 7-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 8-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 9-Wire fraud related to the Racing Bill-GUILTY
- Count 10-Wire fraud related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 11-Attempted extortion related to School Shakedown-NO VERDICT
- Count 12-Attempted extortion related to Children's Memorial Hospital-GUILTY
- Count 13-Bribery related to Children's Memorial Hospital-GUILTY
- Count 14-Extortion conspiracy related to Racing Bill-GUILTY
- Count 15-Bibery conspiracy related to Racing Bill-GUILTY
- Count 16-Attempted Extortion related to Tollway Shakedown-NO VERDICT
- Count 17-Bibery related to Tollway Shakedown-NOT GUILTY
- Count 18-Extortion conspiracy related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 19-Attempted extortion related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY
- Count 20-Bribery conspiracy related to the Senate Seat-GUILTY