Blago Blusters Through - At Least For Now - UPDATED

The jury is finally in and found Ex-Governor Hair Helmet guilty of only one count out of 24 - making false statements to the FBI.

The thrust of his attorneys’ position was “we’re with Stupid” and it appears to have pretty much worked.

His lawyers tried to paint him as an honest, if simple, politician led astray by bad advisers.

The jury was deadlocked on the other 23 counts and the judge is apparently declaring a mistrial on those counts. Leaving it up to the prosecution to decide whether to re-try the case. Or they could take the one guilty verdict as enough and decline to spend more time and taxpayers’ money on a politician who is essentially a buffoon and likely won’t ever hold public office again.

What’s your vote?

UPDATE: Well, my question’s been answered. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced tersely that he will re-try the case. Blagojevich, meanwhile, ignored his own “note to self - don’t talk so much” and did a victory lap while accusing Fitzgerald of persecuting him. The song and dance goes on.

Posted by marindenver on 08/17/10 at 04:58 PM • Permalink

Categories: Messylaneous • Politics • Nutters •

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Blago’s a creep, but Fitzgerald owed us this one for the Scooter Libby flameout.

In fact, I think I’ll click over to his personal Web page and ask him how that “Shovel of Justice” is working out!

Comment by StrangeAppar8us on 08/17/10 at 05:41 PM

If he changed parties & became a Republican, there’s a viable chance he could seek elected office again.

One of the more startling insights of the “party of responsibility” is that they have none.

Comment by zhak on 08/17/10 at 05:54 PM

I’d hoped this wouldn’t happen—but feared it would. Mostly, I’m sad that my jailhouse buddy comedy between him and our LAST idiot governor, George Ryan, will have to be put on hold.

Comment by Oblomova on 08/17/10 at 06:17 PM

And Strange, thank you for reminding me of the “Shovel of Justice.” Still one of my favorite Stupid PUMA moments ever.

Comment by Oblomova on 08/17/10 at 06:18 PM

Rapidly clicking into my usual haunts, I’ve just seen a report that the jury voted 11-1 for conviction on most or all of the other counts; if true, I assume every Chicago reporter will be going nuts trying to ID the hold-out. It might also help explain why the prosecution decided to retry so quickly.

Also, in what is probably by now an old analysis (but news to me), some folks have opined that Fitzgerald was forced to lay charges prematurely, due to media attention compromising his wiretapping, and with less-than-ironclad evidence, he went to trial in a weakened state. Anyone know if this is commonly accepted wisdom, or is it more likely something offered up by the Fitz Fan Club?