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Blagojevich appeals conviction, 14-year sentence

By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 8:24 AM EST, Wed December 21, 2011
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The former Illinois governor was sentenced to 14 years in prison
  • He was convicted of corruption

Chicago (CNN) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is appealing his corruption conviction and 14-year prison sentence, according to a notice filed by his attorneys late Tuesday.

Blagojevich was scheduled to report to prison March 15, a federal judge ruled this month. Blagojevich, 55, must also pay a $20,000 fine.

The Democrat was accused of trying to profit as he considered whom to appoint to succeed Barack Obama when he vacated his Senate seat to move to the White House.

He was convicted of corruption in June after a jury returned 17 guilty verdicts against him.

Federal prosecutors sought a sentence of 15 to 20 years, but his attorneys called that excessive and asked the judge for leniency, even as they admitted for the first time that crimes were committed.

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