Distressed 'Blago' gets 14 years

US District Judge James Zagel has sentenced a disgraced Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in federal prison for corruption despite an emotional plea for leniency from the former governor. Because of federal guidelines, Blagojevich must serve at least 85 percent of his time behind bars, meaning he will spend a minimum of almost 12 years in prison.

CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - When sentencing Blagojevich, Zagel said, "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily or quickly repaired, you did that damage."

A seated Blagojevich sunk his head as he learned how long his sentence would be. 

Blagojevich made an emotional plea for leniency before his sentence was announced. He made a point to publicly accept his responsibility while professing ignorance that his actions were illegal. "I never set out to break the law," Blagojevich said before Zagel. "The jury decided I was guilty, I am accepting of it, I acknowledge it.  I have nobody to blame but myself for my stupidity and actions and the things I did and I thought I could do. I'm not blaming anybody."  

Blagojevich stood convicted of 18 corruption charges including a charge that he attempted to sell Obama's vacated Senate seat. Additionally, several people testified that Blagojevich held up passage of important legislation and delayed filling the state's vacant senate seat as he tried to extract a financial or personal advantage from each opportunity. According to federal prosecutors, he even held up funding for children's hospitals for 30 days to gain personal leverage. 

Prosecutors were asking for a sentence of 15-20 years, while Blagojevich's attorneys were attempting to settle for three-and-a-half years. 

Blagojevich also expressed great concern for how he would provide for his wife and children. Zagel responded to that by saying, "I see case after case where good fathers are bad citizens. If it is any consolation to his children, he does not stand convicted of being a bad father." 

A distressed Blagojevich left the courthouse with his wife and spoke briefly to reporters. "My life is in ruins. I'm in no position to earn a living for my children. I can't be a lawyer. We have to sell our home. "I want to thank Patti. She has stood by me in the worst of times, not just the best of times."

Blagojevich will still be allowed to enjoy Christmas with his family, as he is not required to report to prison until February 16. After that, his holidays for the next 12-14 years will be spent behind bars. 

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