Blagojevich holdout explains vote

From the Chicago Tribune

By Stacy St. Clair, Tribune reporter
August 27, 2010

Battling stomach pains and fatigue, JoAnn Chiakulas would take the train into the city each morning knowing that her resolve was disappointing some people and infuriating others.

But the 67-year-old grandmother said she also knew that as a juror in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial, she had a responsibility to follow her conscience and the law. She said she did not believe he or his brother committed a crime with their actions to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat, so she would not find them guilty despite what other jurors, prosecutors and, perhaps, the general public wanted.