Prosecutors are calling for a long prison term in a 21-page sentencing brief filed before the court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar says the former governor belongs behind bars for between 15 to 20 years.
“[Blagojevich], 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,” according to the prosecutorial filing, obtained by the Chicago Tribune. “While the government is not unsympathetic to the plight that Blagojevich, like many criminals, has inflicted upon his family through his criminal acts, Blagojevich has nobody to blame but himself for the criminal conduct in which he engaged.”
“Blagojevich has done his best to undermine the legitimacy of the proceedings against him in this case, further demonstrating he does not respect the rule of law,” the prosecutors added.
But defense attorneys say his public disgrace is punishment enough in a 72-page reply filing, and argue he deserves to spend just 51 months (4 1/4 years) in prison. Blagojevich’s lawyers told the court that their client has already suffered “personal ruination, public scorn and criminal conviction.”
U.S. District Judge James Zagel, federal prosecutors recommended that Rod Blagojevich get 15-20 years in prison for his corruption conviction. Prosecutors pointed out that the former Illinois governor, "repeatedly committed serious criminal acts that have done enormous damage to public confidence in Illinois government."
Zagel is supposed to sentence Blagojevich next Tuesday. Blagojevich's lawyers have been seeking probation for their client.
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