Impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Found Guilty on 17 of 20 Counts on June 27, 2011

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was convicted on 17 of 20 counts in Chicago, Illinois during his retrial on Monday, June 27, 2011. "No verdict" was returned on Count 11, Attempted extortion, regarding Blago's attempts to force now-Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel's Hollywood agent brother to hold a fundraiser for Blagojevich in exchange for releasing a school grant. The jury also returned No Verdict on Count #16, Attempted extortion of a road-building executive.

On the other hand, Guilty verdicts were handed down for 10 counts of wire fraud, nearly all related to the allegations that Blagojevich attempted to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat of President Barack Obama. Each count can command a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Also in the guilty column were count #12 (attempted extortion involving a shake-down of the CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital for campaign contributions (another 20-year maximum penalty); count #13, soliciting a bribe, also related to the Children's Memorial Hospital executive shake-down (maximum 20 year sentence); count #14, extortion conspiracy, which involved Blagojevich's attempts to shake down a racetrack executive; count #15, bribery conspiracy related to the racetrack executive; count #17, soliciting a bribe, which involved a road-builder shakedown; count #18, extortion conspiracy in regards to the Obama Senate seat, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years; count #19, attempted extortion related to the Senate seat; and count #20, bribery conspiracy, also related to the Senate seat but carrying a maximum penalty of only 5 years.

Blagojevich's conviction was not mourned overmuch by his former colleagues, including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan who said, "The jury's decision has reaffirmed that public servants work for the people and must pay a serious price if they fail to uphold the solemn duties of their office." My State Senator, Mike Jacobs (D, East Moline) said, "I think Illinois is a much better place now that he's been tried and convicted. He certainly gave the state of Illinois a black eye." Our State Senator Pat Verschoore (D, East Moline) said, "You can't legislate morality. There are going to be people who try to get around the laws."

Blagojevich joins the ranks of 7 previous corrupt Illinois governors, including: Lennington Small (1921-1929) who may still hold the distinction of "worst Illinois governor ever." More recently, George Ryan, the Republican governor who served from 1999 to 2003 has served about 3 years of a 6 and '½ year prison term in connection with the Illinois drivers' license bureau licensing scandal. (Ryan's wife is gravely ill in the hospital now.)

Other Illinois governors who have been found guilty of corruption include Daniel Walker, the Democrat who got elected by walking across the state and served from 1973 to 1977. Over 10 years after he left office, he was convicted of misusing money from a savings and loan. Otto Kerner (D) served from 1961 to 1968 for bribery, tax evasion, mail fraud and perjury after he left office. Kerner was convicted of perjury in connection with a horse race trade stock deal. William Stratton, a Republican who served from 1953 to 1961 was indicted, but later acquitted, of money laundering while he was state treasurer. Also on the list of corrupt Illinois governors were long-ago Democratic governors Joseph Duncan (1834-1838), who tried to collect money from the federal government that properly belonged to a relative and Joel Matteson (1853-1857) who owed the state more than a quarter of a million in connection with a scheme to pay government contractors.