Topic: James Zagel
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Rod Blagojevich a substance abuser? He seeks treatment in prison.
Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, ordered to report to US prison Feb. 16, seeks to enter a prison substance abuse program. It can shave a year off his time behind bars, but does he really have an abuse problem?
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Harsh sentence for Rod Blagojevich: Did his fight reflexes cause him harm? (VIDEO)
Despite his apparent contrition in court, Rod Blagojevich wasted little time after sentencing before vowing 'to fight through adversity.' Legal experts suggest his boxer's instincts antagonized the judge.
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Rod Blagojevich 14-year sentence a warning to corrupt politicians
Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison, a decision some legal experts found harsh. But the judge said the sentence was meant to send a message – and not just to Rod Blagojevich.
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Rod Blagojevich offers no apologies at sentencing hearing
Witnesses testified Tuesday that Rod Blagojevich had good intentions at heart and that he received bad advice from aides and advisers. The judge disagreed, saying Blagojevich 'was not a supplicant.'
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Rod Blagojevich sentencing: Does he deserve at least 15 years in prison?
Rod Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois, appears in court Tuesday for sentencing. Prosecutors are pushing for a 15- to 20-year sentence, and they have the upper hand, experts say.
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Rod Blagojevich should get 15 to 20 years: Prosecutors
Rod Blagojevich: In arguing for a sentence that would be one of the longest for corruption in Illinois' sordid political history, prosecutors said Blagojevich — convicted, among other things, of trying to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama — deserved more than two other figures now in prison.
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Rod Blagojevich: Federal judge may be ready to set sentencing date
Rod Blagojevich: If the judge does so during a Monday status hearing, that'd give Blagojevich and his family a clearer idea of when he'd start serving time.
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Rod Blagojevich asks for third trial, saying the judge impeded his defense
A motion by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich accuses the judge presiding over his case of bias and says the airing of more taped conversations would provide context for his deal-making.
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Rod Blagojevich: As he contemplates jury's message, the bluster is gone
Before his second trial, Rod Blagojevich cast himself alternately as an amiable populist or a political warrior. But now convicted on 17 counts, the former governor is somber and pensive.
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On the stand, Rod Blagojevich offers a few barbs and a lot of bluster
Prosecutors on Thursday interrogated former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for the first time during his retrial on federal charges of corruption. It was a combative hour.
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In his federal retrial, Blagojevich takes the stand and center stage
Last summer, when a jury convicted Blagojevich on one count and deadlocked on all the rest, he didn't testify. This time defense lawyers apparently are betting on his personal charm.
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Retrial for Rod Blagojevich: Will anyone be watching?
The retrial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich opens Wednesday in federal court. In the first trial, the jury deadlocked on 23 of 24 charges related to the handling of President Obama's former US Senate seat.
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Rod Blagojevich back in the spotlight defending himself
Former Illinois Governor Blagojevich wants immediate sentencing on his one conviction and scheduled retrial on other charges dismissed. Too costly to taxpayers, he says.
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Rod Blagojevich seeks to toss wiretaps
Rod Blagojevich faces an April 20 retrial on 23 charges, including that he tried to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama's vacated US Senate seat.
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On eve of Chicago election, a call to confront city's legacy of corruption
A report on 'Patronage, Cronyism and Criminality' in Chicago is released in the waning days of the campaign. The next mayor, the authors say, has the power to end the city's scourge.
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Blagojevich trial delay could hamper Rahm Emanuel's run for Chicago mayor
There are already signs that former governor Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial will play a role in the Chicago mayor's race. Rahm Emanuel's opponents in the race say he needs to divulge more about his dealings with Blagojevich.
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Rod Blagojevich broke, so taxpayers would pay for defense in retrial
The defense team for Rod Blagojevich is trying to rouse public anger at the prospect of taxpayer money being used in a retrial. But the cost probably wouldn’t be considerable for the state.
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Rod Blagojevich retrial: Can prosecutors succeed with a simpler case?
Rod Blagojevich retrial will likely be a condensed version of the original case and focus on charges related to allegations that he attempted to sell President Obama's Senate seat.
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Rod Blagojevich was almost convicted by jury
Rod Blagojevich was one juror short of being convicted of a 'political corruption crime spree' that would have sent yet another former Illinois governor to prison.
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Why Rod Blagojevich was convicted on only one of 24 counts
The count of lying to the FBI – the one conviction the jury in the Rod Blagojevich trial handed down Tuesday – is often included to make sure a jury returns at least one guilty verdict. The other counts may have been too complex.
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Why Rod Blagojevich jury deadlock could be good news for defense
After 12 days of deliberation, the Rod Blagojevich jury has reached a verdict on only 2 of 24 counts. 'If it was an open-and-shut case, it would have been shut by now,' says one legal expert.
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Rod Blagojevich jury deadlocked on some charges. Now what?
The jury weighing 24 criminal charges in the corruption trial against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is deadlocked. That doesn't necessarily mean a hung jury.
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Blagojevich case goes to jury for deliberations
Blagojevich appeared in court Tuesday with his wife and children as lawyers for both sides made their closing arguments. Now, the jury gets to decide his fate.
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Rod Blagojevich 'silly,' but not a criminal, defense says
The defense lawyer for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich waved his arms, shouted, and worked up a sweat in a rowdy closing argument Tuesday. Jury deliberations begin Wednesday.
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Rod Blagojevich judge: Will step in if lawyer goes too far
Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial judge is warning the ousted Illinois governor's attorney to avoid mentioning witnesses the government didn't call.
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