Former Illinois Gov. Blagojevich apologizes, but his new sentence is the same as the old one
A federal judge in Chicago was apparently unmoved by the apology from former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich during his resentencing for political corruption on Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel sided with prosecutors who recommended a sentence of 14 years in prison, the Chicago Tribune reports. It is the same the sentence Blagojevich received before a federal appeals court overturned his convictions last year on five of 18 counts.
Testifying on a video feed from a federal prison in Colorado, Blagojevich said he had been too ambitious and he recognized his actions had put him in prison. After spending 4 1/2 years in prison, Blajojevich said, he is “a very different person” who is closer to God. And Blagojevich wept as one of his daughters called him an “amazing father” as she read from a statement.
Zagel said he applauded Blagojevich for being a model prisoner, but his wrongdoing as governor merited the sentence.
Blagojevich’s lawyer had sought a five-year sentence.
