Rod Blagojevich

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Convicted Blagojevich faces prospect of long prison sentence

June 27, 2011
State Journal-Register

By Karen Hawkins and Michael Tarm

Stunned and nearly speechless after hearing the verdicts against him, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces the stark reality that he  is likely headed to federal prison within months, leaving behind his wife, two young daughters and comfortable home in a leafy Chicago neighborhood.

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Illinois after Blagojevich (Editorial)

June 27, 2011
Chicago Tribune

 "Today's verdict proves that no one is above the law. And just as important, it proves that government is supposed to exist for the good of the people, not the other way around, and certainly not for the personal enrichment of those who hold public office."

— Then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, April 17, 2006, on the corruption conviction of former Gov. George Ryan.

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A grasping schemer leaves the building (Editorial)

June 27, 201
Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois is officially done with Rod Blagojevich.

With a conviction on 17 of 20 counts, our disgraced former governor can begin counting down his days as a free man. Even if he appeals, as of course he will, a looming prison sentence means the Rod Show is drawing to a close, thank you very much.

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Why political reform never seems to work in Illinois

June 30, 2011
Illinois Times

Put voters on trial next

By James Krohe Jr.
 

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Blagojevich mess will linger for years in Illinois

June 29, 2011
Carmi Times

By Christopher Wills and Don Babwin

Springfield, Ill. —
 
In the end, Rod Blagojevich did not bring doom for his party or the national political figures whose names got dragged into his scandal. But long after he is behind bars, Illinois will still be cleaning up the mess left behind by the state's cartoonish former governor.

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Blagojevich soap opera comes to a screeching halt

June 29, 2011
St. Louis Post Dispatch

There were times during the past 30 months when it seemed like the Rod Blagojevich case had slipped down the rabbit hole, falling from the level of deadly serious political corruption to national joke.

That ended Monday when a jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago returned guilty verdicts on 17 of 20 charges of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy against the 54-year-old former Illinois governor.

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After Blagojevich -- finishing the job of reforming Illinois

June 29, 2011
Crains Chicago Business

by Greg Hinz
    Now that we've all had 48 hours to pat ourselves on the back about how the jury slam-dunked Rod Blagojevich, it's time to turn to the real task: how to finish the job of reforming Illinois.

   Mr. Blagojevich's conviction, following that of his predecessor in the governor's office, George Ryan, certainly has resulted in some changes.

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For Illinois, Blagojevich Is Only the Latest to Fall

June 29, 2011
New York Times

By MONICA DAVEY

CHICAGO — After jurors this week convicted Rod R. Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, of trying to sell his appointment of a replacement in the United States Senate for President Obama, they were asked what they had come to think of politicians in their home state.

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Blagojevich trial legacy must be ethics reform (Editorial)

June 29, 2011
Decatur Herald & Review

By the H&R Editorial Staff

WHILE THE first impulse is to celebrate, it's hard to feel much joy about the 17 guilty verdicts delivered Monday by a federal jury against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on a wide variety of charges including extortion, bribery, corruption and fraud.

At best, it represents a triumph of the justice system. At worst, it's a symbol of the kind of corruption that has permeated upper levels of government in the state of Illinois for too many years.

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