Federal prosecutors have suggested that disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich should receive 15 to 20 years in prison, saying his “criminal conduct was extreme,” according to court papers.
“Blagojevich repeatedly committed serious criminal acts that have done enormous damage to public confidence in Illinois government,” state the court papers.
The former governor was convicted on corruption charges in June and his sentencing date is on Dec. 6.
Blagojevich, 54, was found guilty on 18 corruption and bribery-related charges during two trials. These included several charges connected to his attempt to sell the Senate seat left open following the election of President Barack Obama. Blagojevich was forced out of office in 2009.
“He has refused to accept any responsibility for his criminal conduct and, rather, has repeatedly obstructed justice and taken action to further erode respect for the law,” the prosecutors said in a filing on Wednesday.
Blagojevich’s criminal activities are a “significant aggravating factor in determining an appropriate sentence. Recent cases involving public corruption have led to substantial sentences for defendants who, as public officials, engaged in corrupt activity,” they add.
Last week, Tony Rezko, a Blagojevich former fundraiser and close friend to Obama, was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years in prison on corruption charges, and prosecutors said the Blagojevich should receive a harsher sentence. They also noted that his predecessor, former governor George Ryan, was sentenced to more than six years in prison for fraud and racketeering charges in an unrelated incident.
When Blagojevich came into office in 2002, he “knew about the crimes of George Ryan” and he “was acutely aware of the damage caused to the public’s confidence in government,” the federal prosecutors said. They claim he was continuously involved in illegal or shady activities since he was elected.
“As the chief executive of the state, Blagojevich was in a special position of responsibility to the public,” the court papers state.
The prosecution also states that while the ex-governor may have done some good deeds for the state of Illinois, has a family, and “appears to be committed to his wife and daughters,” he should be treated like any other criminal and be sentenced appropriately.
Blagojevich’s lawyers have said they will seek probation for the former governor and will likely file their papers soon, reported the Chicago Sun-Times.
