Gaplek News--Former 'Celebrity Apprentice' contestant -- and, oh yeah, disgraced former Illinois governor -- Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Wednesday after being convicted on 18 federal corruption charges, the New York Times reported.
Though Blagojevich's sentence potentially could have amounted to hundreds of years, prosecutors had been seeking 15 to 20 years for the politician.
Blagojevich's most prominent transgression was attempting to profit from the Senate seat that Barack Obama vacated after he was elected President.
Prior to the sentencing, Blagojevich told the court that he alone bore the responsibility for his crimes.
“I have nobody to blame but myself for my stupidity and actions, words, things that I did, that I thought I could do,” Blagojevich said, adding, "I accept the peoples’ verdict, Judge, they found me guilty.”
Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office in 2009 after being elected twice. At the time, he maintained his innocence, making numerous media appearances to deny any wrongdoing.
He was convicted in June 2011 during a retrial, after his initial trial ended with a deadlocked jury. In a secret recording made by federal authorities during their investigation, Blagojevich was heard discussing Obama's Senate seat in shockingly blunt terms, declaring, “I’ve got this thing, and it’s f---ing golden.”
In 2010, Blagojevich participated in "Celebrity Apprentice 3," alongside such contestants as Bret Michaels and Sharon Osbourne. He was eliminated during the fourth week.
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