Blagojevich wins appeal, five of 12 corruption convictions thrown out

Posted on July 21, 2015
Five of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's 12 convictions on corruption charges were thrown out Tuesday by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (WJBC file photo)
Five of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 12 convictions on corruption charges were thrown out Tuesday by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (WJBC file photo)

By Joe Ragusa

CHICAGO – The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has given former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich a chance to get a new trial on some of the corruption charges he was convicted of in 2011.

The judges vacated Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence and ordered a retrial on five of the 12 charges he was convicted of.

If prosecutors decline to file new charges, Blagojevich would be re-sentenced. Blagojevich has served two years at a prison in Colorado.

Some of the charges accuse Blagojevich of trying to sell President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat in 2008.

The court said in its ruling that the evidence against Blagojevich is “overwhelming” and he will not be eligible for release pending a new trial.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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