 The attorney's comments came as a federal judge set a new sentencing
date of Dec. 6 for Blagojevich.Jurors at Blagojevich's retrial
earlier this year convicted him on 17 of 20 corruption charges,
including attempted extortion for trying to sell or trade President
Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. At his first trial last
year, jurors deadlocked on all but one count -- convicting
Blagojevich of lying to the FBI.
Blagojevich's attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, wouldn't discuss what
the former Democratic governor planned say to the sentencing judge,
James Zagel. Defendants typically express remorse in hopes of
leniency, though Blagojevich has steadfastly maintained his
innocence.
Sorosky said the December sentencing on the total of 18 counts
could last two days as the sides argue for what they see as an
appropriate punishment. Neither has yet gone on record with their
recommendations.
Technically, Blagojevich faces a maximum sentence of 305 years in
prison -- though federal guidelines dictate he get far less. Most
legal experts have said Zagel is likely to sentence Blagojevich to
around 10 years.
The new sentencing date, which is just four days before
Blagojevich's 55th birthday, replaces an October date canceled but
not immediately rescheduled because it conflicted with a related
trial.
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The initial Oct. 6 sentencing date conflicted with the trial of
longtime Illinois political power broker William Cellini with the
same judge in the same Chicago courtroom. A jury last week convicted
Cellini, a 76-year-old Republican, of conspiring to squeeze the
Oscar-winning producer of "Million Dollar Baby" for a $1.5 million
contribution to Blagojevich's campaign fund.
Cellini's trial was the last scheduled trial stemming from a
nearly decade-long federal investigation of Blagojevich, which has
ensnared more than a dozen people associated with his
administration.
[Associated Press]
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