A federal appeals court has overturned some of former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s convictions

On Tuesday, July 21st, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out convictions on five of Blagojevich’s 18 counts of corruption charges.

Many of these charges related to a scheme Blagojevich created to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat for campaign cash or a job.

Blagojevich appears on page 1 of Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality by Thomas J. Gradel and Dick Simpson.  “Blago” also appears on page 2, and 3, and 7, and 49, and many other pages of the book.

In Corrupt Illinois, Gradel and Simpson introduce the former Governor as such:

Blagojevich. . . . has become the face of Illinois corruption. Even before he was convicted, he was impeached by the Illinois legislature and thrown out of office. Similar to former Governor Ryan, he was convicted on multiple counts. He had established a corrupt network of businessmen, political appointees, and politicians. He shook down businessmen and institutional leaders for bribes. He appointed corrupt individuals to various boards and commissions to shake down hospitals, racetracks, road builders, and government contractors.

The appeals court found the five overturned convictions invalid on technical grounds. Blagojevich will be re-tried on the charges and will not be released from his current home in a Colorado federal prison any time soon.