From the Chicago Sun Times:
Nine jurors voted in favor of acquittal on the four counts involving Robert Blagojevich and three voted to convict, Grover said.
“I’m further resolved to hear it was a 9 to 3 result in my favor,” Robert Blagojevich said today. “I’m an innocent man. I’ve done nothing wrong. The majority of the jury thought that was the case.”
The interviewed jurors also said the Government should not retry Robert. Here's Robert in a media interview this weekend:
[Video since deleted]
Robert has paid almost a million dollars for his defense so far. While he's a successful businessman, he took out a second mortgage for the first trial and likely will have to sell his home to fund a retrial.
The Chicago Tribune reports on the continued rift between Rod and his brother Robert. He and Rod haven't spoken since the verdict. (It's not he doesn't want to speak to Rod, he's just waiting for Rod to call.) He doesn't seem to fault Rod, as much as state the obvious:
"Rod is unfortunately an undisciplined, all over the place, sometimes out-of-control guy who speaks without thinking, and that's what's gotten him and me in trouble," said Robert.
Having said that, Robert strongly defends his brother as an innocent man who never acted with criminal intent. "Rod and I are very different people, we have very different approaches to problems, and I wish him well in his strategy," said Robert.
Here's more from the jurors on why they wanted to clear Robert and send him home.
Fox News says in the article linked above:
One wonders if this Blagojevich had twice been elected governor, whether Illinois might be in far better shape than it is today.
Robert told Fox regardless of the drain, he'll continue to fund his own defense:
He said he would not ask taxpayers to foot the bill for his defense in any retrial: "There's no bailout program for Rob Blagojevich. I'll tell you that. No, I'm responsible. And I'll take care of myself."
At a minimum, he should get a severance from Rod and be tried first. Rod's legal team is in flux. It's unclear whether the judge will let them off the hook, or demand they retry the case with payment through the Criminal Justice Act. (The rate of pay isn't an issue, as Rod's legal team was being paid at CJA rates from the campaign fund with interim payments after court approval.) A new team could take up to 18 months to prepare.
Robert's lawyer tells Fox he's ready to go to trial next month and his retrial shouldn't take more than a few days.
I think it's time to start a "Free Robert" movement.