Blagojevich verdict will be read today between 1 and 2 pm. Jury has agreed on 18 of 20 counts, deadlocked on 2 counts.
Verdict reached in Blagojevich trial
June 27, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Jurors in the corruption trial of former governor Rod Blagojevich have reached a verdict. They are unanimous on 18 counts, but deadlocked on 2, according to reports.
That verdict is expected to be read at 1 or 2 p.m.
Blagojevich, 54, faces 20 counts ranging from conspiracy to soliciting a bribe to wire fraud. He is accused of trying to trade or sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate for his personal gain and squeezing executives for campaign donations in exchange for state business. He denies any wrongdoing.
This is the former governor's second corruption trial. Last year, jurors found Blagojevich guilty of lying to the FBI, one of 24 charges he faced. They were deadlocked on 23 others, in part due to a single juror.
Eleven women and one man make up this second jury. Deliberations began on June 10 after six weeks of testimony in the streamlined case.
Unlike the first trial, Blagojevich testified in his own defense. He spent one week on the stand, often giving longwinded answers to yes and no questions. His defense attorneys argued the former governor talked a lot but never did anything wrong.
Prosecutors likened the case to that of a police officer asking for a bribe, saying "The harm is done when 'the ask' is made..."
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