Blago Fails to Boot Federal Prosecutor

They threw 'the kitchen sink' at me and failed

(NEWSER) - Because federal prosecutors got Rod Blagojevich on only 1 of 24 counts , we get to do this all over again. Let the posturing begin, as rounded up by the Chicago Tribune :

• Rod Blagojevich: "The government threw everything but the kitchen sink at me, and on every charge but one they could not prove that I broke any laws except one, a nebulous charge from five years ago." And as to that conviction: "I did not lie to the FBI. I told the truth from the very beginning."
• Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald: "We intend to retry those charges. That's it."

Jury can't decide on 23 others; feds will retry him

(AP) - A federal jury has found ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of one count of lying to federal agents. The jury could not reach a decision on the other 23 counts after two weeks of deliberations, and the judge said he intends to declare a mistrial on them. Federal prosecutors say they plan to retry the case "as quickly as possible." The judge set a hearing for Aug. 26 to decide manner and timing of their retrial. More»

Judge wants them to keep deliberating

(NEWSER) - The Rod Blagojevich jury continues to be stuck: On its 12th day of deliberations, jurors informed the judge that they've settled on only two counts (it's not clear which ones), remain deadlocked on 11 others, and haven't even begun deliberating the remaining 11 related to wire fraud charges. The judge is instructing them to try to tackle the wire fraud counts before they pack it in, reports the Chicago Tribune . More»

But he can still talk to the press

(NEWSER) - Geez, now Rod Blagojevich is going to have sit still during his corruption trial. The judge today blocked his perfectly rational plan to issue live tweets from the courtroom, reports the Chicago Tribune . Judge Zagel didn't bar Blagojevich from making his many public statements before and after the proceedings, though he warned the ex-governor they could haunt him if he eventually testifies. "I'm quite sure it has been explained by his attorneys," Zagel said. AP has the opening arguments here . More»

Former Illinois gov admits only 'routine' backroom dealing

(NEWSER) - Rod Blagojevich’s memoir makes the case for his innocence with a lot of help from Shakespeare, the Chicago Tribune reports. While blaming his woes specifically on five enemies, he likens his plight to that of Othello and Lear. “You might as well throw in a little Richard the Third," he writes, noting that “I was left with neither a kingdom nor a horse. Or for that matter, even a car.” The Governor, due out next week, contains no real bombshells, notes the Tribune, largely repeating much of Blagojevich's previous public stances. More»