Monday, December 05, 2011
 
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Any defiance could hurt Blagojevich at sentencing

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[December 05, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- As Rod Blagojevich steps before a sentencing judge, the impeached Illinois governor might do well to suppress the cocksure, perpetual campaigner in him and conjure up a lesser-known figure: the humble, contrite family man.

Whether he can pull that off at the hearing beginning Tuesday may play a role in determining the sentence imposed for his 18 convictions, including that Blagojevich sought to auction off the Senate seat Barack Obama was vacating to become president.

The former governor has never wavered in insisting on his innocence, from his celebrity turns on national television to his gabby days on the witness stand. But even a hint of obstinacy in court could anger Judge James Zagel and scuttle any hopes Blagojevich harbors of a lesser sentence, according to legal experts and a former politician who faced the same dilemma.

"You just can't walk into your sentencing and say you've been railroaded. Forget about it. That time's over," said Jim Laski, former Chicago city clerk, who was sentenced in 2006 to two years in prison for corruption. "You darn well better walk in with a heavy heart, saying you made mistakes and that you accept the decision of a jury of your peers."

Most experts say Zagel is likely to sentence Blagojevich to around 10 years in prison. Much less would be seen as lenient. More than 10 would make the sentence one of the stiffest for corruption in Illinois' long history of crooked politics.

Blagojevich, 54, will likely go to a low-security prison. But his life will be strictly regimented, and the father of two girls will be largely cut off from the outside world. He'll also have to work a menial job -- possibly janitorial work -- at a wage of just 12 cents an hour.

In requesting Blagojevich get between 15 and 20 years, prosecutors noted that he has shown no remorse and has even "belittled the seriousness of his offences."

Blagojevich's lawyers countered that federal guidelines dictate Blagojevich get about 3 1/2 years to a little more than four years in prison, and they have argued for even less.

Defense lawyers say the twice-elected Democratic governor will address Zagel directly in court, but they haven't indicated just what he'll say or who else could speak on his behalf in a hearing that the judge says will last into Wednesday.

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There has been no hint the defense intends to strike a conciliatory tone. In challenging prosecutors' proposed sentence, Blagojevich attorney Carolyn Gurland said it is "disconnected to the facts of this case ... in which the initiative and action at issue were all perfectly legal."

An earlier filing also suggests Blagojevich may not accept any guilt. His attorneys asked to play at the sentencing unreleased FBI wiretap recordings that they claim show Blagojevich never had ill intent. Zagel rejected the request, which harkened to Blagojevich's mantra since his Dec. 9, 2008, arrest -- that if authorities only played all the recordings, they would clear him of wrongdoing.

Gal Pissetzky, a federal defense attorney with no connection to the case, said he believes any show of defiance would be a mistake. "If you continue to shove it in the judge's face by (insisting on) your innocence at sentencing, it takes away from your goal of less time in prison," he said.

Judges have enormous discretion in sentencing, and their decisions can come down to notions of what constitutes justice and deterrence.

[Associated Press; By MICHAEL TARM]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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