Thaindian News

Aug 18 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Rod Blagojevich has been convicted by jury on one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), but the judge declared a mistrial on the other 23 counts against the former governor of Illinois.

Those twenty three counts, against Rod Blagojevich as well as all four counts against his brother, Robert Blagojevich had jurors deadlocked. After fourteen days of deliberation on the part of the jury, the verdict was passed down. The fifty three year old Rod Blagojevich now faces up to five years behind bars for the one count.

A status hearing has been set for Blagojevich by the US District Court Judge James Zagel for the date of August 26 for prosecutors to make the announcement on whether or not they will retry him, but US Attorney Randall Samborn stated late on Tuesday that they “definitely” plan to have a retrial.

In reference to the imminent retrial, Blagojevich said, “We have a prosecutor who has wasted millions and wants to keep spending money to persecute me.” He also promises to appeal the one conviction of lying to federal investigators as well. “I did not lie to the FBI,” he stated. “I told the truth from the very beginning.”

Among the twenty three charges which the jury deadlocked on, Blagojevich was accused of such crimes as racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery, and the worst among the bunch, attempting to sell the Senate seat which was vacated when Barack Obama became president.

The judge has not stated when Blagojevich will face sentencing for his conviction. No witnesses testified in his defense, and Blagojevich did not take the stand.