Jurors will soon get Blagojevich corruption case, competing images of former Ill. governor

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Blagojevich corruption case to go to the jury

CHICAGO — The corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will soon be in the hands of the jury.

After hearing instructions from the judge on Wednesday, jurors will begin deciding the fate of the state’s second governor in a row to be charged with corruption in office.

They’ll be weighing competing images of Blagojevich. One of an immaculately dressed and smiling man, with his two daughters sitting nearby in the courtroom. The other painted by FBI wiretaps of him cursing in vile terms about everyone from the president to the voters who elected him.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to charges including scheming to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat and plotting to launch a racketeering operation in the governor’s office.