MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Imprisoned ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of his corruption convictions that included his bid to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.

The Democrat’s lawyers filed the request Tuesday.

The Supreme Court hears only around 80 cases a year, out of more than 10,000 requests, and is more likely to accept cases that raise weighty and divisive legal issues.

The court could decide that Blagojevich’s case raises unresolved questions about where to draw the line between the legal and illegal trading of political favors.

The 58-year-old Blagojevich is serving a 14-year prison sentence. A lower court tossed five of his 18 convictions in July. He’s now asking the Supreme Court to toss the rest.

 

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