Rod Blagojevich

And one less second, you know what I mean? But at least it's starting now. You've hit the bottom and now you're trying to climb it back up just from a time point of view. But that first day, I'll work backwards. I'll never forget the first night after that long, long day that I went through. You know, the media was covering me like I was OJ Simpson.

They were at my house at 5.30 in the morning when I kissed my little girl's goodbye. My little Annie Banani was eight years old at the time. She's in her pajamas and she hugs and squeezes me. And my daughter, Amy, she was a sophomore in high school. She was 15. And we're all in the foyer. It's all dark because you got all these media trucks around your house.

They were at my house at 5.30 in the morning when I kissed my little girl's goodbye. My little Annie Banani was eight years old at the time. She's in her pajamas and she hugs and squeezes me. And my daughter, Amy, she was a sophomore in high school. She was 15. And we're all in the foyer. It's all dark because you got all these media trucks around your house.

They were at my house at 5.30 in the morning when I kissed my little girl's goodbye. My little Annie Banani was eight years old at the time. She's in her pajamas and she hugs and squeezes me. And my daughter, Amy, she was a sophomore in high school. She was 15. And we're all in the foyer. It's all dark because you got all these media trucks around your house.

We live in a neighborhood, a normal neighborhood, just not gated. And they're all over the place. And so they look into your house. So we had to keep the lights off. Kiss my wife goodbye, my two daughters. The hardest thing I've ever did was saying goodbye to them. But you got to be strong for them. And you can't show those assholes in the media that you're dying inside.

We live in a neighborhood, a normal neighborhood, just not gated. And they're all over the place. And so they look into your house. So we had to keep the lights off. Kiss my wife goodbye, my two daughters. The hardest thing I've ever did was saying goodbye to them. But you got to be strong for them. And you can't show those assholes in the media that you're dying inside.

We live in a neighborhood, a normal neighborhood, just not gated. And they're all over the place. And so they look into your house. So we had to keep the lights off. Kiss my wife goodbye, my two daughters. The hardest thing I've ever did was saying goodbye to them. But you got to be strong for them. And you can't show those assholes in the media that you're dying inside.

So you've got to be strong when you step out. There's all kinds of film footage of that when I left. And there's a helicopter that follows me, a news helicopter from my house all the way to O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Like I was O.J. Simpson in that White Bronco. I called the chapter My White Bronco Moment.

So you've got to be strong when you step out. There's all kinds of film footage of that when I left. And there's a helicopter that follows me, a news helicopter from my house all the way to O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Like I was O.J. Simpson in that White Bronco. I called the chapter My White Bronco Moment.

So you've got to be strong when you step out. There's all kinds of film footage of that when I left. And there's a helicopter that follows me, a news helicopter from my house all the way to O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Like I was O.J. Simpson in that White Bronco. I called the chapter My White Bronco Moment.

and uh and then when i got on the at the airport there was this big gaggle of media there and then when i get on the plane these are on the plane they bought tickets so i can't even like you know get give it a second to think about what just happened me saying goodbye to my family and i'll be gone for worst case scenario 14 years but if i behave myself it'll be 12 and a half years right good behavior and then i land in denver

and uh and then when i got on the at the airport there was this big gaggle of media there and then when i get on the plane these are on the plane they bought tickets so i can't even like you know get give it a second to think about what just happened me saying goodbye to my family and i'll be gone for worst case scenario 14 years but if i behave myself it'll be 12 and a half years right good behavior and then i land in denver

and uh and then when i got on the at the airport there was this big gaggle of media there and then when i get on the plane these are on the plane they bought tickets so i can't even like you know get give it a second to think about what just happened me saying goodbye to my family and i'll be gone for worst case scenario 14 years but if i behave myself it'll be 12 and a half years right good behavior and then i land in denver

And they're there. And so I'm trying to leave the plane. They're all waiting there at the gate. And then the people in Denver were really nice at the airline. I think it was United Airlines. And they got me out a side door. And they had a car waiting. So I was able to leave. And for a moment, I thought I was away from the media as I'm about to drive to prison. But no, they caught us.

And they're there. And so I'm trying to leave the plane. They're all waiting there at the gate. And then the people in Denver were really nice at the airline. I think it was United Airlines. And they got me out a side door. And they had a car waiting. So I was able to leave. And for a moment, I thought I was away from the media as I'm about to drive to prison. But no, they caught us.

And they're there. And so I'm trying to leave the plane. They're all waiting there at the gate. And then the people in Denver were really nice at the airline. I think it was United Airlines. And they got me out a side door. And they had a car waiting. So I was able to leave. And for a moment, I thought I was away from the media as I'm about to drive to prison. But no, they caught us.

They caught up with us. And I got there a little bit early to prison. So I told one of my lawyers who was driving me, you know what? We're like a half an hour early. I'm already giving him 14 years. I don't want to give him 30 minutes more. Let's stop for a cup of coffee or something.

They caught up with us. And I got there a little bit early to prison. So I told one of my lawyers who was driving me, you know what? We're like a half an hour early. I'm already giving him 14 years. I don't want to give him 30 minutes more. Let's stop for a cup of coffee or something.

They caught up with us. And I got there a little bit early to prison. So I told one of my lawyers who was driving me, you know what? We're like a half an hour early. I'm already giving him 14 years. I don't want to give him 30 minutes more. Let's stop for a cup of coffee or something.

So I went to this little restaurant, a little fast food place called Freddy's in Denver, the Denver area, Littleton, Colorado. And it was really surreal because people knew who I was and they were really warm and loving. I'm signing autographs. You'd never know. I'm about to go to prison for 14 years. And then the time came to walk in.