Court overturns some Rod Blagojevich convictions

[DonViejo]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Chicago Tribune

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have another day in court, but his hopes of being freed from prison anytime soon remain dim at best.

In a long-awaited ruling, a federal appeals court in Chicago threw out five of 18 counts against Blagojevich, vacated his 14-year sentence and ordered him retried on the five counts.

But it remained uncertain how Blagojevich's fate would ultimately be resolved — prosecutors could opt against a third trial, throw out the disputed counts and proceed to a resentencing on the remaining convictions.

While finding the five counts invalid on technical grounds, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called the evidence against Blagojevich "overwhelming" and made clear that the former governor wouldn't be released from prison in the meantime.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rod-blagojevich-convictions-20150721-story.html#page=1

[MADem]

1. Hasn't he been up the creek awhile, now?

It seems longer than three years, for some reason!!!

Blagojevich, now 58, was convicted of misusing his powers as governor in an array of shakedown schemes, most famously for his alleged attempts to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama after his 2008 election as president. Blagojevich has been locked up in a federal prison in suburban Denver since March 15, 2012, and is not scheduled to be released until May 2024, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

[cosmicone]

2. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141152872

[Omaha Steve]

3. Locking dupe

See earlier post here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141152872

OS