Rod Blagojevich, who's managed to avoid jail time since infamously trying to sell then-congressman Obama's Senate seat, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Wednesday. The sentence seems to be on the lower side for what the prosecution had said it was looking for, The Chicago Tribune reported that they were "asking for a sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison." With that, as The New York Times noted earlier today, he'll join a new club: he'll be "Illinois’s fourth governor in recent memory to go to prison."

As far as Blagojevich's courtroom statement, he reportedly appeared contrite. The Associated Press said that he tried apologizing, something that the news outlet says hasn't been in keeping with his many memorably odd moments typical of his prior court appearances. "I was mistaken," The Tribune quoted him saying in court on Wednesday. "The jury convicted me and they convicted me because those were my actions…I am responsible. I caused it all. I’m not blaming anybody. I was the governor, and I should have known better. And I am just so incredibly sorry."

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at ehayden at nationaljournal dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Erik Hayden