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Blagojevich saga continues as some pray he is innocent
Published: 24 June, 2010, 02:42
Edited: 30 June, 2010, 22:25
TAGS: Crime, Scandal, Politics, Law, USA
The trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is now in full swing, though many in the court of public opinion have already convicted him.
Many think he is indeed guilty on charges of corruption, accused of trying to sell now President Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat. Since day one, Blagojevich has stood by his claim that he’s done nothing illegal.
“How can you throw a governor out of office on a criminal complaint and you haven’t been able to show or prove any criminal activity?” he asked during a news conference.
Now in court, Blagojevich, a Serbian American, is fighting for his political future and his freedom.
One region following this story particularly closely is Chicago’s north side, where there is a significant Serbian population. Many people come to the Beograd café to discuss politics, sports and just about everything.
“We think that they set him up, that’s what we think but we’ll see,” said Predrag Bogicevic, as he drank coffee and read the Serbian newspaper.
Dusko Pavlovic, the owner of Beograd café and restaurant, said he’s been serving the Blagojevich family for years.
“Most people say, they don’t believe actually, that he is guilty,” Pavlovic said.
“All of our community, our Serbian community, support with, we support with all our heart, we support Governor Blagojeviech,” said Luka Stojanovic.
Known to most in the United States as Rod, he is still Milorad (his given name) here. Although he was born in the US, those who share his Serbian heritage say his governorship was a source of pride. The Serbian community in the Chicago, about 300,000 people, a people who haven’t forgotten Blagojevich the hero – the man who, in 1999 flew to Yugoslavia to negotiate the release of three American prisoners of war, a man who has not changed his tune regarding his innocence.
“The truth will come out and it will show that I’ve done nothing wrong and I’ve done a lot of things right for the people of Illinois,” Blagojevich said.
But it remains to be seen whether recently released FBI recorded phone conversations, which illustrate some shady financial dealings between Rod Blagojevich and his brother, Robert, will actually yield any evidence. As for those who share his heritage and his hometown…
“People don’t believe before his judge say something different,” said Dusko Pavlovic
“I hope he’s innocent.”
Luka Stojanovic echoed those sentiments: “If he’s guilty, he deserves to go to jail, but please God I think he’s not guilty.”
“Many democrats and Republicans I spoke to think he got a raw deal. Where do you draw the line between corruption and hardball politics?” said Madsen.
He argued that the prosecution’s case has taken many hits, is playing a political game and that that the judge is corrupt.
24.06.2010, 02:39
2 comments
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All you have to do is look at his name and find out he is a Serb . Serbs are always guilty evrey time . dont you remember Bosnia and Kosovo . Right now Karadazic is on trail in the Hague court , does not matter one bit if a serb was with in 100 miles of the crime sciene or not . Lord Paddy Ashdown saw the Serbs shoot up a Albainian populated town in Kosovo . The Serbs with more than 500 soiders said they never fired one shot at the town . Lord ashdown could see the smoke coming from the town from the otherside of the mountian . The Serbs said NATO bombed the town . Oh no NATO would never do anything wrong they are a defensive organasation . Serbs are always guilty . United States Germany and Al Qaida trained KLA terrorists to be freedom fighters in Albania . Milosevic brought a picture to court of 15 or so freedom fighters with spears and on top of each spaer was a guilty Serbs head . The judges were always telling Milosevic not to call the KLA muslims terrorists . He said he could not help it they looked like terrorists to him , but the Judges could call them anything they wanted to . Milosevic made complete fools of the prosecution almost evrey day . Now Karadazic is doing it again . But of course they are Serbs so they would be guilty .
Blago is a convenient fall guy for a corrupt Illinois government & the Chicago political machine....I think those who attacked him thought they could easily bully him because he's Serbian...& he's a P.R. nightmare....BUT...what these bullies didn't figure is that Blago is no coward & will go down fighting.
Keep the faith, Eric...The more Al Qaeda & NATO try to kill the Serbs , the stronger they get.