Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

A federal judge has sentenced Rod Blagojevich to 14 years for corruption that included trying to sell or trade an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

It's one of the stiffest penalties for corruption in a state with a history of crooked politics. Blagojevich apologized for his crimes and asked for mercy in addressing the judge earlier Wednesday.

His attorneys had said the sentence of 15 to 20 years prosecutors wanted was too harsh.

He is the second successive Illinois governor sentenced for corruption. His Republican predecessor, George Ryan, is serving a 6 1/2 year term.

UPDATE: The federal judge who sentenced Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison said the former Illinois governor eroded public trust in government and the good he did didn't mitigate his crimes. U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced Blagojevich on Wednesday after listening to the 54-year-old Democrat make a last-ditch plea for mercy.

Zagel says Blagojevich did some good things for people as governor but that he's more concerned that the former governor wanted to use his powers for himself.

Zagel says Blagojevich's crimes were especially harmful because of the position he held. Zagel said: "When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired.