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| Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years in prison | Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years in prison |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. | Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. |
| He was found guilty in June of 17 counts of graft, including trying to sell the US Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. | He was found guilty in June of 17 counts of graft, including trying to sell the US Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. |
| At the sentencing in Chicago, he said he was "unbelievably sorry" and had made "terrible mistakes". | At the sentencing in Chicago, he said he was "unbelievably sorry" and had made "terrible mistakes". |
| Prosecutors had requested a maximum sentence of 20 years, saying the 54-year-old knew he was breaking the law. | Prosecutors had requested a maximum sentence of 20 years, saying the 54-year-old knew he was breaking the law. |
| The former two-term Democratic governor has been ordered pay a $20,000 (£13,000) fine as part of his sentence, and will report to prison on 16 February 2012. | |
| Correspondents say it is likely that Blagojevich will serve his sentence in a prison outside Illinois. He will be required to undertake eight hours a day of menial labour for 12 cents an hour and share a cell with other inmates. Family visits will be limited. | |
| Blagojevich was arrested in December 2008 while still in office. His Republican predecessor as governor was also jailed for corruption. | |
| He has been handed the harshest sentence of any of the four former governors of Illinois who have been sent to prison during the last four decades, the Associated Press reports. | |
| 'Life ruined' | 'Life ruined' |
| In court, Blagojevich sat hunched forward with a blank expression as the sentence was read on Wednesday. | |
| Afterwards, he brushed away tears from his wife's cheeks as he held her in the courtroom. | Afterwards, he brushed away tears from his wife's cheeks as he held her in the courtroom. |
| Pleading for leniency before sentencing, Blagojevich told Judge James Zagel he thought what he had been doing was "permissible". | Pleading for leniency before sentencing, Blagojevich told Judge James Zagel he thought what he had been doing was "permissible". |
| Acknowledging his mistake, Blagojevich said he "never set out to break the law". | Acknowledging his mistake, Blagojevich said he "never set out to break the law". |
| "My life is ruined, at least now," he said. "My political career is over. I can't be a lawyer anymore. We can't afford the home we live in; we're trying to sell it. | "My life is ruined, at least now," he said. "My political career is over. I can't be a lawyer anymore. We can't afford the home we live in; we're trying to sell it. |
| "I realise that the things I thought were permissible, the jury has made abundantly clear were not." | "I realise that the things I thought were permissible, the jury has made abundantly clear were not." |
| He added: "Because of all that, I have jeopardised my ability to protect my children." | He added: "Because of all that, I have jeopardised my ability to protect my children." |
| The admission of guilt came after years of insisting he was innocent. | The admission of guilt came after years of insisting he was innocent. |
| Judge Zagel said that Blagojevich's appeal to the court did not mitigate his crimes. | Judge Zagel said that Blagojevich's appeal to the court did not mitigate his crimes. |
| "Whatever good things you did for people as governor, and you did some, I am more concerned with the occasions when you wanted to use your powers when you wanted to do things that were only good for yourself," he said. | "Whatever good things you did for people as governor, and you did some, I am more concerned with the occasions when you wanted to use your powers when you wanted to do things that were only good for yourself," he said. |
| "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired." | "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired." |
| Bribes and extortion | Bribes and extortion |
| Blagojevich was not immediately taken into custody and it is expected that he will appeal against the conviction. | |
| He was also convicted of trying to extort campaign donations from business executives, and of soliciting bribes from racing officials. | He was also convicted of trying to extort campaign donations from business executives, and of soliciting bribes from racing officials. |
| One of his top fundraisers, Antoin Rezko, was sentenced last month to 10 and a half years in prison. | One of his top fundraisers, Antoin Rezko, was sentenced last month to 10 and a half years in prison. |
| Prosecutors said: "Blagojevich engaged in extensive criminal conduct with and without Rezko, provided no co-operation, perjured himself for seven days on the witness stand, and has accepted no responsibility for his criminal conduct." | Prosecutors said: "Blagojevich engaged in extensive criminal conduct with and without Rezko, provided no co-operation, perjured himself for seven days on the witness stand, and has accepted no responsibility for his criminal conduct." |
| The defence argued that the former governor had already paid a high price for his actions through ridicule and financial ruin. | The defence argued that the former governor had already paid a high price for his actions through ridicule and financial ruin. |
| He was elected governor of Illinois in 2002 and served until 2009, when the state legislature threw him out of office following his arrest. | He was elected governor of Illinois in 2002 and served until 2009, when the state legislature threw him out of office following his arrest. |
| As governor, he was tasked under law with appointing someone to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Mr Obama won election to the White House. | As governor, he was tasked under law with appointing someone to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Mr Obama won election to the White House. |
| In FBI wire taps, Blagojevich was heard describing the Senate appointment as a "golden" opportunity. | In FBI wire taps, Blagojevich was heard describing the Senate appointment as a "golden" opportunity. |
| After the jury was unable to reach a verdict in the first trial, Blagojevich was found guilty second time round. | After the jury was unable to reach a verdict in the first trial, Blagojevich was found guilty second time round. |