After 10 days of deliberation, Rod Blagojevich, an alumnus of the Pepperdine School of Law, was convicted of 17 of 20 counts of federal corruption, including all 10 counts in connection with trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, according to The New York Times.
Despite the fact that he graduated from Pepperdine University, a recognized law school with overtly Christian values, Blagojevich was found guilty of such crimes as wire fraud, attempted extortion, soliciting a bribe, extortion conspiracy, and bribery conspiracy.
Blagojevich served as the governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009 and first made the news in December 2008 when he was arrested on federal corruption charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.
His most recent trial, criticized for being somewhat convoluted and difficult to navigate, was centered around the same issues.
Blagojevich was released after the trial until sentencing. His lawyers have until next month to pursue a new trial, The New York Times reported, and the most serious of Blagojevich’s charges carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
“Among the many lessons that I’ve learned from this whole experience is to try to speak a little bit less,” Blagojevich told The New York Times. “I, frankly, am stunned.”
Blagojevich was acquitted on one count of bribery.
The Pepperdine School of Law has not been able to be reached for comment.