quarta-feira, 18 de agosto de 2010

Blagojevich found guilty on single count in corruption trial


Chicago, Illinois (CNN) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was found guilty Tuesday of making false statements to the FBI, but escaped convictions on 23 other counts in a trial that is seen as at least a partial victory for Blagojevich.
The jury, which deliberated for 14 days, said it was hung on 23 counts against him and on the counts against the former governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich.
The former governor faced charges including racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion and bribery. A two-term Democrat, he was removed from office in January 2009 amid accusations that he attempted to sell the U.S. Senate seat that had been occupied by Barack Obama before Obama was elected president.
"On every charge except for one, they could not prove that I did anything wrong," said Rod Blagojevich, shorty after the jury was dismissed. "I told the truth from the very beginning".
He added he would appeal the one conviction and thanked members of the jury for finding what they did. CNN