Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti arrive at the federal courthouse where opening remarks were delivered at his corruption retrial on May 2, 2011. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO (CBS) – It’s a quiet weekend for convicted ex-governor Rod Blagojevich and his family, just days before his sentencing hearing.
CBS 2′s Dana Kozlov has a look ahead at what Blagojevich and his family can expect.
Blagojevich has kept a pretty low profile since his corruption retrial ended this summer with convictions on 17 corruption counts. This weekend has been no exception.
Other than adopting a dog on Saturday, Blagojevich, his wife Patti and their two daughters have not spoken publicly about the government’s harsh sentencing recommendations or how he’s doing.
But his lawyers have.
“He’s doing fine. Of course, he’s nervous and apprehensive, but he’s doing fine and he’s with his family,” defense attorney Sheldon Sorosky said on Friday, after U.S. District Judge James Zagel told them he would not hand down a sentence until Wednesday, even if testimony and arguments in the sentencing hearing are done on Tuesday.
At that hearing, Zagel spent about an hour criticizing the way Blagojevich and his attorneys handled the second trial.
Neither Blagojevich nor his family attended that hearing, the last one before sentencing begins on Tuesday.
There are many difficult changes ahead for Patti Blagojevich and the girls.
The Blagojevich family already has been trying to sell their Ravenswood Manor home.
Many legal experts believe Blagojevich will get a lengthy prison sentence. Antoin “Tony” Rezko, Blagojevich’s chief fundraiser, got a 10 ½ year sentence for allegedly shaking down companies seeking state business under Blagojevich Many legal observers believe Zagel will not give Blagojevich a sentence any shorter than Rezko’s
In their filing, Blagojevich’s attorneys pushed for a much more lenient sentence – saying guidelines should warrant no more than a 41 to 51 month prison sentence. But they will argue for probation, stating he received no monetary gain and caused no public harm as two reasons for their position.
Blagojevich is expected to address the judge on Tuesday. Zagel said he will not pass down a sentence on Tuesday, but instead will rule on Wednesday.
CBS 2’s Legal Analyst Irv Miller says if Blagojevich receives a longer than 10 year sentence, he could be sent to a low-security prison instead of a prison camp.
Lights were on but no one was talking at the Blagojevich’s home Sunday night.
