News Local/State

Blagojevich Lawyers Appeal Convictions, Prison Sentence

 

Lawyers for imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have appealed his corruption convictions and 14-year sentence.

Monday's filing with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago comes more than two years after the Chicago Democrat's retrial and 16 months after he entered a Colorado prison.

Jurors convicted the 56-year-old for wide-ranging corruption, including his bid to profit from his power to appoint someone to the U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president.

His lawyers filed the appeal less than an hour before a midnight deadline to do so.

In June, defense attorneys citing the complicated issues involved received permission to file a longer-than-usual appeal.