Blago Convicted on a Single Charge, Escapes (For Now) On 23 Others

A federal jury in Chicago has convicted former Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich on a single count of lying to federal agents. That charge was the only one of 24 counts, which included allegations that Blagojevich tried to sell Barack Obama’s old Senate seat, on which the jury reached a verdict. After 14 days of deliberation, the 12 jurors informed Judge James Zagel that they remained deadlocked on the other 23. Prosecutors say they will seek a retrial on the outstanding charges. The maximum penalty for making false statements to a government agency is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but given the gravity of the allegations and the wiretaps the government had in its possession, Blagojevich has to be feeling pretty good about the outcome.