Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Chicago Tribune reports that federal rules require Blagojevich to serve a little less than 12 years in prison.
“‘I’m here convicted of crimes. The jury decided I was guilty. I am accepting of it. I acknowledge it, and I of course am unbelievably sorry for it,’ Blagojevich said.
“‘I want to apologize to the people of Illinois, to the court, for the mistakes I have made… I never set out to break the law. I never set out to cross lines.’
“Blagojevich said he thought he was acting in accord with the law when he did things for which he later was convicted.
“‘I was mistaken. The jury convicted me and they convicted me because those were my actions… I am responsible. I caused it all. I’m not blaming anybody. I was the governor, and I should have known better. And I am just so incredibly sorry.'”