THEN Dec. 9, 2008: Federal agents arrest Blagojevich at 6 a.m. at his Ravenswood Manor home. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (right) releases a stunning criminal complaint where Blagojevich is on tape calling his power to appoint to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat "f---ing golden." Fitzgerald famously describes the sitting governor's conduct as a political corruption "crime spree" that would have "Lincoln rolling over in his grave."

TODAY Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be sentenced on federal corruption charges on Wednesday, with a hearing set for Tuesday for Blagojevich to make the case for mercy and prosecutors to ask U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel for at least ten years.

The Sun-Times Federal Court Reporter Natasha Korecki story on Zagel is HERE.

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Click over to Korecki's Blago Blog for the latest LIVE from inside the courtroom with Korecki and Sun-Times political writer Abdon M. Pallasch.

Sun-Times City Hall Reporter Fran Spielman story on Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), Blagojevich's father-in-law and one-time political patron is HERE.

For complete Blagojevich coverage during the day: www.suntimes.com