15:45 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFormer Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been found guilty of trying to sell the US Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.<\/p>\n
In his second trial in a US federal court in Chicago, Blagojevich was found guilty on 17 of 20 charges.<\/p>\n
He was also found guilty on other corruption charges.<\/p>\n
The Democrat was arrested in December 2008 and ejected from office the following month. He had already been found guilty of lying to investigators.<\/p>\n
Personal gain<\/span><\/p>\nIn Chicago, Blagojevich was acquitted on one count of soliciting a bribe from a toll road authority. The jury failed to reach a verdict on two other counts.<\/p>\n
Blagojevich, 54, was elected governor of Illinois in 2002 and served until 2009, when the state legislature threw him out of office following his indictment and arrest on corruption charges.<\/p>\n
As governor, Blagojevich was tasked under law to appoint someone to fill the US Senate seat left vacant when Mr Obama won election to the White House.<\/p>\n
Most of the case against him stems from accusations he sought to sell the appointment in return for personal gain.<\/p>\n
‘Golden’ opportunity<\/span><\/p>\nHe was also convicted of trying to extort campaign donations from business executives, and of soliciting bribes from racing officials.<\/p>\n
Blagojevich was convicted by a jury of 11 women and one man, which deliberated seven days.<\/p>\n
Among the evidence against him prosecutors presented hours of FBI wire taps, including a recording in which Blagojevich was heard describing the Senate appointment as a “golden” opportunity.<\/p>\n
His defence lawyers argued Blagojevich was just talk, with no corrupt intent behind it, and they noted no money was exchanged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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