Judge rejects leniency plea by former Illinois governor

CHICAGO — A federal judge refused Tuesday to lighten Rod Blagojevich’s original 14-year prison sentence for corruption, rejecting pleas for lenience by the now white-haired former Illinois governor who attended the resentencing hearing by video from a Colorado prison a thousand miles away.

Blagojevich, 59, was eligible for resentencing after an appeals court last year threw out several convictions related to his alleged attempt to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.

A somber, contrite Blagojevich spoke for 20 minutes in a sometimes apologetic, sometimes rambling statement before U.S. District Judge James Zagel announced the sentence, telling the court he understood he made mistakes.

“I wish I could turn back the clock and make different choices,” said Blagojevich, who didn’t use notes. “These have been hard years.”

Zagel said that even though the appeals court threw out five of the 18 counts against the former governor, the remaining ones still justified the original sentence. The appeals court said in its ruling last year that Blagojevich wasn’t necessarily entitled to a lower sentence, adding that the 14-year term fell below what federal guidelines recommended.

As the judge announced his decision, Blagojevich could be seen on screen bowing his head. In the courtroom, his two daughters sobbed, the younger one placing her head on her mother’s shoulder.

The onetime contestant on Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” reality show wanted Zagel to sharply reduce his sentence to just five years, which would have meant him going free within months. Instead, with the 14-year term reaffirmed, his projected release date remains 2024, which includes two years’ credit for good behavior.

Zagel said he went through more than 100 letters from fellow prisoners. Many portrayed Blagojevich — known as brash in his days as governor — as humble and self-effacing, as well as an insightful life coach and lecturer.

Zagel told Tuesday’s hearing that Blagojevich’s exemplary behavior behind bars wasn’t relevant to deciding on an appropriate punishment.