Blago Verdict Shocks Illinois Residents

The verdict for former Governor Rod Blagojevich 24 charges are handed out. On Tuesday, the jury found Blago guilty of just one of the 24 charges, and that one charge was lying to federal agents. Report:

A decision surprising most Illinois residents.

“That’s it, I’m shocked,” Marshall, Illinois resident Dave Dudley said, “I honestly thought they would find several charges that would be brought towards him and he would do some prison time, that was my gut feeling.”

“I’m surprised, I think he’s guilty,” Illinois resident Nancy Fowler said.

It was certainly not an easy decision for the jurors. Just last week, the jury only decided on 2 of the 24 counts and hadn’t even discussed 11 of them.

A difficult process for jurors, one Illinois resident thinks was part of the problem.

“I think the instructions to the jury were so complicated because of what was supposed to be in place in order to convict; it was very hard for them to make that decision,” Marshall, Illinois resident Julie Pendleton said. “I would hate for the not guilty to stand.”