Court Quashes 5 Blagojevich Convictions
A federal appeals court in Chicago threw out five of 12 convictions against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is currently serving 14 years for corruption. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also vacated Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence ordered a retrial on the five counts. Blagojevich was accused of trying to exchange political favors for President Obama’s old Senate seat. He will stay in jail pending the retrial.
In a long-awaited ruling, a federal appeals court in Chicago on Tuesday threw out five of 18 counts against convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, vacated his 14-year sentence and ordered him retried on the five counts.
While finding five of the counts invalid on technical grounds, the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals called the evidence against Blagojevich “overwhelming” and made clear that the former governor was not entitled to be released from prison in the meantime.
If prosecutors elect to drop the counts that were thrown out on appeal, then U.S. District Judge James Zagel should “proceed directly to resentencing,” the opinion stated.
The court had mulled the ruling since holding oral arguments 17 months ago, a delay that led to speculation over a split among the three-judge panel-- Easterbrook, Ilana Diamond Rovner and Michael Kanne -- making the decision.
more:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rod-blagojevich-convictions-20150721-story.html
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