Rod Blagojevich: Highlights of the political career of the deposed Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois and the legal saga:
- 1993: Blagojevich begins a stay of three years as a representative of the Illinois House.
- 1997: Blagojevich begins a six-year term in Congress.
- 2002: Blagojevich, billing himself an anti-corruption candidate, wins the election for governor of Illinois.
- 2004: the year the first public indication that Blagojevich administration is under federal investigation.
- 2006: letter from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says he has witnessed "very serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" Blagojevich administration.
October 11: Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a major fundraiser for Blagojevich, is charged with the federal government to use its political clout to squeeze kickbacks from companies seeking to do business with the state.
October 27: Stuart Levine, who himself has the good graces of Rezko, pleads guilty to fraud and mail in the money laundering scheme Rezko and agree to cooperate.
November 7: Blagojevich re-elected, beating Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka easily.
- 2007: December: Chris Kelly employee accused Blagojevich gambling debts related to taxes
- 2008: June: A federal jury sentence Rezko money laundering fraud and corruption.
December 9: Federal agents arrested Blagojevich on corruption charges in his home in Chicago.
December 19: A challenge Blagojevich has the first news conference since his arrest, proclaimed his innocence and says he will not resign. Blagojevich said, "I will fight I will fight I will fight until I take my last breath ..."
- 2009: January: The Illinois House votes to impeach Blagojevich 114-1, the first governor in Illinois history to be impeached. Blagojevich began a media campaign to proclaim his innocence. The Illinois Senate unanimously votes to withdraw Blagojevich of his duties, the Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn was sworn in as governor.
April 2: Blagojevich was indicted five defendants - his chief of staff last year, John Harris, Christopher Kelly fundraiser, a former chief of staff, Lon Monk, Springfield powerbroker William F. Cellini and his brother, Rob Blagojevich.
July 8: John Harris pleads guilty to wire fraud. He accepts the plea, and many agree to testify against his former boss.
September 12: Blagojevich friend and fundraiser Christopher Kelly committed suicide days before he was to report to prison to begin eight years of tax and mail fraud.
October 20: Lon Monk pleads guilty to fraud and agreed to testify against Blagojevich.
- 2010: March: Blagojevich appears on the television show "Celebrity Apprentice" with Cyndi Lauper, Bret Michaels and other celebrities.
June 3: Jury selection in the corruption trial begins the first Blagojevich.
July 21: Rod Blagojevich's lawyers rest without calling a single witness on the stand.
August 16: After discussing the 14 days after a jury deadlocked a penalty of only one count - lying to the FBI. Prosecutors immediately notify the court they intend to retry Blagojevich.
Aug. 26: Prosecutors drop all charges against his brother Rod Blagojevich is a co-defendant, Robert Blagojevich.
- 2011: April 20: Blagojevich trial begins.
May 25: Former White House chief and current mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel is called to testify by the defense, and in less than five minutes. The defense also called U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who is also on the short walk.
May 26: Blagojevich finally realized his promise to speak directly to jurors, taking the witness stand. His first words are, and jurors, "I used to be your governor. ... I am here today to tell the truth." In total, it is at rest for seven days.
June 27: The nine-day wonder, Blagojevich jury found guilty of nearly all 20 counts, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade in the former home of President Barack Obama in the Senate. The jury reached a not guilty ruling in a case, and locked the other two.
- 1993: Blagojevich begins a stay of three years as a representative of the Illinois House.
- 1997: Blagojevich begins a six-year term in Congress.
- 2002: Blagojevich, billing himself an anti-corruption candidate, wins the election for governor of Illinois.
- 2004: the year the first public indication that Blagojevich administration is under federal investigation.
- 2006: letter from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says he has witnessed "very serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" Blagojevich administration.
October 11: Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a major fundraiser for Blagojevich, is charged with the federal government to use its political clout to squeeze kickbacks from companies seeking to do business with the state.
October 27: Stuart Levine, who himself has the good graces of Rezko, pleads guilty to fraud and mail in the money laundering scheme Rezko and agree to cooperate.
November 7: Blagojevich re-elected, beating Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka easily.
- 2007: December: Chris Kelly employee accused Blagojevich gambling debts related to taxes
- 2008: June: A federal jury sentence Rezko money laundering fraud and corruption.
December 9: Federal agents arrested Blagojevich on corruption charges in his home in Chicago.
December 19: A challenge Blagojevich has the first news conference since his arrest, proclaimed his innocence and says he will not resign. Blagojevich said, "I will fight I will fight I will fight until I take my last breath ..."
- 2009: January: The Illinois House votes to impeach Blagojevich 114-1, the first governor in Illinois history to be impeached. Blagojevich began a media campaign to proclaim his innocence. The Illinois Senate unanimously votes to withdraw Blagojevich of his duties, the Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn was sworn in as governor.
April 2: Blagojevich was indicted five defendants - his chief of staff last year, John Harris, Christopher Kelly fundraiser, a former chief of staff, Lon Monk, Springfield powerbroker William F. Cellini and his brother, Rob Blagojevich.
July 8: John Harris pleads guilty to wire fraud. He accepts the plea, and many agree to testify against his former boss.September 12: Blagojevich friend and fundraiser Christopher Kelly committed suicide days before he was to report to prison to begin eight years of tax and mail fraud.
October 20: Lon Monk pleads guilty to fraud and agreed to testify against Blagojevich.
- 2010: March: Blagojevich appears on the television show "Celebrity Apprentice" with Cyndi Lauper, Bret Michaels and other celebrities.
June 3: Jury selection in the corruption trial begins the first Blagojevich.
July 21: Rod Blagojevich's lawyers rest without calling a single witness on the stand.
August 16: After discussing the 14 days after a jury deadlocked a penalty of only one count - lying to the FBI. Prosecutors immediately notify the court they intend to retry Blagojevich.
Aug. 26: Prosecutors drop all charges against his brother Rod Blagojevich is a co-defendant, Robert Blagojevich.
- 2011: April 20: Blagojevich trial begins.
May 25: Former White House chief and current mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel is called to testify by the defense, and in less than five minutes. The defense also called U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who is also on the short walk.May 26: Blagojevich finally realized his promise to speak directly to jurors, taking the witness stand. His first words are, and jurors, "I used to be your governor. ... I am here today to tell the truth." In total, it is at rest for seven days.
June 27: The nine-day wonder, Blagojevich jury found guilty of nearly all 20 counts, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade in the former home of President Barack Obama in the Senate. The jury reached a not guilty ruling in a case, and locked the other two.
No comments:
Post a Comment