Last Wednesday, after almost three years to the day of his arrest on federal corruption charges, U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced former Governor Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in federal prison. After being arrested on December 9, 2008, impeached by the Illinois State Senate, banned from ever holding public office again in the State of Illinois, two lengthy and expensive federal trials, and having his license to practice law permanently suspended, the “Blago” saga may have finally come to an end.
By the time of his sentencing, Rod Blagojevich had become a very famous man. Although most Americans weren’t well-versed on the details of his corruption charges, millions chose to follow his trials because of his constant media exposure, his 2009 autobiography “The Governor: The Truth Behind the Political Scandal That Continues to Rock the Nation”, and his appearances on Celebrity Apprentice season 9. Ironically, as Governor of Illinois, he wasn’t particularly popular and he had historically earned low approval ratings.
As a lifelong resident of downstate Illinois, now would be the perfect time for me to jump on the proverbial “he was just another “scumbag” politician, he deserves every year he got, I hope “Blago” rots in jail” bandwagon………..but I’m not. After learning of his sentence, I found myself just shaking my head and thinking about how stupid he had been before and after he was indicted. I also felt incredibly sad for his wife and children because unfortunately, they too will share each day of his sentence, innocent victims whose lives have been forever changed.
The whole situation is pretty sad really. Facing serious federal charges, he made a series of fatal errors in judgment that will place him in a federal prison until the age of 67. Rather than admitting his guilt early on, resigning from office, offering a sincere act of contrition for his actions, and trying to be ingratiating to the court, he chose to symbolically give the prosecutors and the judicial system the middle finger.
Denying his guilt at every opportunity, he fed his considerable ego by repeatedly berating his accusers, suggesting that all of the charges were without merit. During every interview, he loudly professed his innocence, and before his second trial, he appeared to almost dare the prosecution to try him again. For almost three years he talked too much, listened to little, and forgot that he had enemies. Until the very end, he thought that he could beat the system. Dumb!
But all of his flamboyant defenses ended last Tuesday, when, for the first time, his attorneys admitted that he was guilty. And on Wednesday, after three years of denials, Rod Blagojevich addressed the judge and admitted that he had made terrible mistakes and that he had in fact broke the law.
If justice has truly been served, and the whole story has now been told, then February 16th, 2012 should mark the end of the Rob Blagojevich story, when he makes his final “perp” walk thru a crush of screaming media and into a federal prison. But I’m not so sure………………
If there’s more to this story, and Rod Blagojevich is still holding a few political cards up his sleeve, there may be a politician or two with reason to worry. And any remaining loyalty that he may have had towards his political cronies? That too will quickly fade when the harsh reality of being in the federal prison system for years to come finally sinks in, his spirit has been broken, and his name is replaced with a number on his pocket. From the moment that he crosses that threshold into a yet-to-be-named prison, he will be relenquishing his freedom and become just another inmate, a man with nothing to lose.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another chapter to the Rod Blagojevich story. His lawyers may be successful with their legal appeals’, he may receive a reduced sentence for assisting in future federal prosecutions, or better yet – how about a presidential pardon, granted by a fellow Chicagoan?
Stay tuned!