Blagojevich will ‘absolutely not’ take deal

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said that he will seek “full vindication” against corruption charges and insisted he will not accept a plea deal if he is re-tried.

Blagojevich (D) gave his first interview Friday morning on NBC’s “Today” show after a Chicago jury failed to reach agreement on 23 of the 24 charges federal prosecutors filed against him, causing a mistrial. The ex-governor was convicted on one felony count of lying to federal investigators. 

{mosads}”No, I am very determined to seek vindication — full vindication,” he said. “This trial, we put no defense on and it failed to convict any corruption charges.”

Multiple reports following the partial verdict Tuesday said that prosecutors will re-try  Blagojevich on the other 23 counts. Throughout the trial process, Blagojevich has claimed he is innocent on all counts and that the federal government was trying to criminalize legal political activity. 

A new trial could cause a headache for Democrats who were hoping the former Illinois governor would be out of the spotlight as the November midterm elections approached.

Asked if he will accept a plea deal if his case is re-tried and an offer is made, he said “absolutely not.”

The ex-governor was arrested in December 2008, and removed from office by the state legislature a month later. He has been barred from ever again holding elected office in Illinois. 

Eleven out of 12 jurors voted to convict Blagojevich on what was perhaps the most politically-charged count against him: that he tried to sell the vacated Senate seat of newly-elected President Obama.

Blagojevich insisted that the allegation was based off talk and speculation, and implied that the Obama administration engaged in similar activity during the healthcare debate.

“In America, you are supposed to have the freedom to talk freely on the telephone,” he said. “Political horse-trading — this is what they are trying to criminalize.

“There is a U.S. congressman who voted for the healthcare bill whose brother became a federal judge — political horse trading.”

Blagojevich was referring to the brother of Blue Dog Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), whom Obama nominated for a federal judgeship in March while the healthcare debate was ongoing. Republicans accused the administration of trying to buy his vote. 

Matheson voted against the healthcare measure.

Asked if he had any regrets, Blagojevich said, “I would say that looking back, if I could change some things … some people that I put my trust in, advisers and other people.”

The colorful Blagojevich, who was a contestant on the NBC reality show “The Apprentice” earlier this year, compared himself to David fighting against the Goliath of the U.S. government.

“I take solace in the Biblical story of David,” he said. “I don’t have a slingshot, but I do have the truth on my side.”