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* LIVE COVERAGE * UPDATE *** BLAGOJEVICH JUDGE REFUSES TO REDUCE SENTENCE

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* UPDATE: Judge Zagel has refused to reduce Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence. Follow along with ScribbleLive…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 9:43 am

Comments

His brother loves him but hasn’t seen him in 6 years? Don’t they allow visitors in that prison?

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:00 am
Do they let you color your hair in prison?

Comment by Trolling Troll Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:06 am
They allow visitors but Rod has not put Robert on the visitor’s list.

Comment by AM Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:29 am
I recall a time after George Ryan was incarcerated that I started to feel some sympathy towards him and his situation. I’m pretty sure that had a lot to do with his wife’s medical condition. In any event, I do not yet have any sympathy for Rod.

Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:38 am
Stop wasting public funds keeping him behind bars. Put an ankle bracelet on him and confine him to home for a couple of years and call it done.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:56 am
I see he’s still using his children as human shields. I guess some things do never change.

Keep him in jail, governmental leaders should be held to a higher standard.

Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:10 am
I have sympathy for the family but not for Rod. It was he who hurt his family. But, he not only hurt them, he hurt many others, including me. The Blago administration steered government contracts to donors but not in the usual way. Unlike previous administrations his was pure quid pro quo. Those who didn’t donate what was demanded didn’t get contracts. Our firm was one that didn’t play that game. So, we were hurt. Rod wasn’t tried for that practice. There were plenty of other “golden” matters that were more worthy of prosecution.

Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:22 am
Can’t we just have him repent before the High Sparrow, do the walk of shame through the Daley Center, and then call it a day?

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:29 am
I agree completely with Keyser. One thing that has always bugged me is so many of his lackeys that he inserted into state agencies so he could control the contracts, have skated away free. He had a corrupt system in place so he could give out jobs and contracts in return for contributions.

Comment by Stooges Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:37 am
The fate of Jesse Jackson Jr and Sandy’s children were taken into consideration for sentencing and I feel the same should be done for the Blago daughters.

Comment by Michael Westen Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:40 am
He ought to be auditioning new guitarists for the Jailhouse Rockers. He should have plenty of time to play with them.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:46 am
US attorneys office does not have much credibility for recommending hastert get a light sentence when they knew he molested high school boys. hastert deserved the death plenty for his crimes. Blago’s ordeal pales by comparison.

Comment by atsuishin Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:47 am
I’m totally disgusted by the defense’s position that Blagojevich’s behavior while in prison should earn him a lower sentence. If the behavior of inmates were relevant for a re-sentencing than every criminal would want a re-sentencing. Behavior in prison is a criteria for parole.

HE STILL CANNOT ADMIT HE WAS A CORRUPT GOVERNOR. I say send him back to prison for an even longer sentence.

Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:51 am
===The fate of Jesse Jackson Jr and Sandy’s children were taken into consideration for sentencing and I feel the same should be done for the Blago daughters.===

Completely disagree. It’s not that I don’t have sympathy for the children; I do. But it’s wrong to give convicted felons special treatment/considerations simply because they have children. That’s not fair or just. Plus, the Jacksons were BOTH going to prison. Different situation.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:53 am
Because Madigan.

Lost me. Back to political excuses. Typical Rod. Let him sit.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:55 am
===US attorneys office does not have much credibility for recommending hastert get a light sentence when they knew he molested high school boys. hastert deserved the death plenty for his crimes. Blago’s ordeal pales by comparison. ===

The statute of limitations had expired for those crimes. They legally could not charge, prosecute, or convict Hastert for that. And indeed the judge kind of opined his regret that they couldn’t…right before throwing the book at him for what they could convict him for.

Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 11:58 am
==judge kind of opined his regret that they couldn’t…right before throwing the book at him for what they could convict him for.==

The Judge gave him a higher sentence than US attorney asked for. I am not arguing for Blago, but i am saying his crime pales in comparison to a high school coach molesting young boy(s). I would demand the maximum penalty short of death that I could get.

Comment by atsuishin Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:10 pm
Ouch. I thought he would get a few years shaved off.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:13 pm
===The Judge gave him a higher sentence than US attorney asked for. I am not arguing for Blago, but i am saying his crime pales in comparison to a high school coach molesting young boy(s). I would demand the maximum penalty short of death that I could get.===

There’s also a question of what the US Attorneys knew when they first brought the charges. That’s kind of important.

Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:13 pm
This is prime example why term limits on Judges should also be on the table for discussion . Zagel clearly from the start was not going to give Blago any consideration for reduction. The jury instructions were wrong and 5 counts tossed because of it. Seems to me Judge Zagel also errored so what penalty should he be given ? Having life time appointments is way to problematic

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:17 pm
no fan of Blogo, and was pleased with impeachment and removal. I think the prison punishment is overdone.

Comment by facts are stubborn things Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:19 pm
I have no sympathy for the man.
He hurt people intentionally.

This transcript should be required reading for all our elected officials.

“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. (No - don’t do it)” –Sammy Davis Jr. 1976

Comment by Bluegrass Boy Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:32 pm
Blago should consider himself lucky Zagel didn’t give him additional time.

Comment by Cheswick Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:36 pm
=Zagel clearly from the start was not going to give Blago any consideration for reduction.= I believe that Zagel could have sentenced Blago for more than 30 years initially but gave him less than half. The appellate court also opined that the sentence was fair even with the dismissed counts. So exactly why is Blago being treated unfairly here?

Comment by pundent Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Sirprused Stu Levine not asked in to vouch for Blagoof

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 12:59 pm
i feel sorry for Blago. I dont feel he deserves 14
years he is paying a high price for mistakes of other officials who have commited crimes . i feel the judge should have reduced his sentence.

Comment by kobyjoe Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 10:57 pm