CHICAGO — Rod R. Blagojevich, the ousted former governor of Illinois,
was convicted on Tuesday of making false statements to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, but the jury in the corruption case against him
also reported that it was hopelessly deadlocked on 23 out of 24 counts
against him.

Former Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois and his wife, Patti, arrived
to hear the verdict in his corruption trial in Chicago on Tuesday.

The jury’s findings, which came on the 14th day of deliberation, were
seen as a victory for Mr. Blagojevich and his defense team and a
significant setback for federal authorities, who arrested Mr.
Blagojevich almost two years ago to stop what they described
unambiguously as “a political corruption crime spree,” including
attempts to sell the appointment to fill the Senate seat once held by
President Obama.

“The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” Patrick J.
Fitzgerald, the United States attorney for the Northern District of
Illinois, said of Mr. Blagojevich at the time.

Judge James B. Zagel accepted the jury’s verdict on the false statements
count on Tuesday and declared a mistrial on the remaining counts, the
bulk of the case. Federal prosecutors said immediately that they will
try Mr. Blagojevich once more.

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