Blagojevich jury agrees on 18 counts, verdict to be read

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The jurors deliberating in the corruption trial of ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tell a judge they have reached a verdict on 18 of the 20 counts against him.

Attorneys in the case have agreed that the verdict should be read Monday. Judge James Zagel said that will happen in the afternoon.

The jury had returned to the federal courthouse in Chicago on Monday after nine days of deliberations. They've been talking over the evidence in the case over a three-week period.

Blagojevich has denied all wrongdoing, including allegations that he sought to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110627/ap_on_re_us/us_blagojevich_trial

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The judge said he expects the verdict to be announced in his courtroom between 1 and 2 p.m.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-blagojevich-jurors-going-into-their-10th-day-20110627,0,620170.story

[Renew Deal]

1. Those 18 charges went to mistrial last time right?

I wonder what they came up with.

[JDPriestly]

6. This time the jury was probably screened more carefully by the prosecutors

to insure that Blagojevich serves time. The first try was a failure. Takes these prosecutors twice. I think Blagojevich did very little that was actually illegal. Somebody needs to keep a close eye on Rahm Emmanuel. That is my personal opinion.

Meanwhile, in my opinion, the Daly brothers organized the Chicago parking meter deal which deserves to be investigated.

Two governors jailed for corruption -- Siegelman and Daly. Meanwhile, far more serious corruption that has nearly bankrupted the country continues unpunished.

This was a show trial, and it took them two tries. I wonder who was on that jury.

I don't know Blagojevich, and I suspect I would not like him if I did. But why is he going to jail while Bush and Cheney (who "accidentally?" shot another man) are not serving time for their role in torture? As far as I know, Blagojevich did not actually do much of anything.

Please correct me if you know of anything Blagojevich did other than talk about the committing the kind of corruption that passes for government in our country every day.

Exchanging favors. Isn't that what fuels our democracy at the highest levels? Blagojevich was all too direct in talking about that fact.

[PassingFair]

2. I'll be really surprised if he gets anything more than a slap on the wrist.

He's got SO much dirt on Rahm.....

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. He's going to get 8-10 years

If the convictions go through. And that will be on the light side.

[kanrok]

4. If he's convicted, I agree

8-10 looks like a pretty good range.

[cal04]

5. Live at the courthouse waiting for the verdict, the judge now reading the verdict

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/livenow?id=8216836