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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Rod Blagojevich Will|Be Retried in January

(CN) - Rod Blagojevich will be retried on corruption charges in January. The trial will begin the week of Jan. 4 and the former Illinois governor will be the only defendant; federal prosecutors in Chicago dismissed charges against his brother.

Prosecutors again will accuse Blagojevich of trying to sell the U.S. Senate vacated by President Barack Obama.

Blagojevich was found guilty of just one of 24 charges this month. That charge, lying to the F.B.I., is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of convicting Blagojevich on more serious corruption counts.

The lone holdout juror, JoAnn Chiakulas, told the Chicago Tribune that she stands by her decision and could not live with her conscience had she voted to convict Blagojevich.

Chiakulas, 67, said Blagojevich's statements, recorded on wiretaps, were so disorganized that his actions did not amount to a criminal conspiracy.

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