After two-and-a-half years, the saga of the Rod Blagojevich scandal is over.

Monday, a federal jury found Rod Blagojevich guilty on 17 of the 20 counts that charged the former Illinois governor for a variety of corruption charges, including an attempt to sell President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat. The delivery of the verdict brought an end to a lengthy ordeal that began in December 2008.

For now, Blagojevich will await a sentencing hearing that will take place on August 1 before he learns the length of his prison term.

Blagojevich’s conviction, though, has not garnered the similar amount of attention and media spectacle that he received when he was arrested and initially tried. This is understandable, said Dr. Jeffrey Ashley, chair of the political science department.

“I think after the first trial, people lost interest,” Ashley said, citing the fact that Blagojevich was unable to affect Illinois directly once he was impeached. “Bottom line, he’s not governor anymore. He can’t do any damage.”

When asked how long he expects Blagojevich will serve in prison, Ashley said he would not serve a very large amount of time, despite the possibility of a maximum sentence of 300 years only being prevented by federal statutes.

“Most legal experts are putting the number at around ten years,” Ashley said, also addressing what others may feel about such a seemingly small amount of served time.

“I’m mixed,” Ashley remarked. “Yes, you should have to spend time when you do things that are wrong. How much time? I don’t know. He can’t do anymore damage than what he’s [done].

Ashley said that while some may think that is a lengthy amount of time, some critics may not think the same.

“For others, it’s not going to be long enough. ‘Once he dies, let him stay in there and keep serving [time], because he screwed over a lot of people,'” Ashley said.

How the conviction of such a prominent state official will affect the politics of Illinois in the long run depends on how the citizens of Illinois will act, Ashley said.

“It’s kind of sad to have our last two governors in prison,” said Ashley “[But] welcome to Illinois.I wish the citizens would get more upset with [the corruption].apparently it’s been this way for a long, long time.”

Greg Sainer can be reached at 581-7942 or gpsainer@eiu.edu.