SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement about former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s guilty verdict:

“Now that the jury in the Blagojevich trial has come back with a verdict, I hope that we can put this sad chapter of Illinois history behind us. My colleagues and I in the Senate unanimously voted to remove him from office when his criminal actions came to light and passed several laws to prevent this kind of situation from happening again two years ago. However, the former governor’s conviction is a reminder to all of us who hold elected office that we must continue to do all we can to restore Illinois government’s credibility and the public’s trust.”