Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (L) addresses the media while wife Patti Blagojevich holds back tears at the Dirksen Federal Building after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. (Credit: Frank Polich/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO (CBS) — The new year is likely to be anything but a happy one for deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but the former governor has a message for his supporters.
As WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports, Blagojevich posted the message via Twitter and Facebook.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports
The message, in its entirety, is as follows:
“Patti and I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year. We want to thank you for your unwavering support, for your good wishes, for your prayers and for your continued belief in me. I cannot properly express to you how much your support means to us. These are dark and extremely challenging times for our family. Patti, Amy, Annie and I draw strength from the love we have for each other. Your friendship and support makes us stronger and helps us feel less alone. Despite the adversity we face, we look to the New Year with hope. We are filing an Appeal. And we trust in it. We will endure and we will persevere. Our resolve is strong because of our belief in the truth and because of our faith in God. Happy New Year and God bless you.”
Meanwhile, Blagojevich’s personal description on his Twitter page does not seem to have been updated since he was convicted and sentenced.
He describes himself as “former governor of Illinois and innocent of all charges. I did not let you down. Follow me on this journey to clear my name and reveal the truth.”
Blagojevich was convicted last summer of 18 corruption charges. <a href="“>U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel sentenced him to 14 years in prison last month.
He is due to report to prison on March 15. The date was pushed back an extra month shortly after Zagel announced Blagojevich’s sentence, so that the ex-governor could sell his Ravenswood Manor neighborhood house and help his family move.
