Blagojevich's wife, daughter plead for leniency
A federal judge heard a request Tuesday with Rod Blagojevich and his wife R. is one of his daughters, urging leniency for the former governor of Illinois, who was convicted last summer of 17 counts of corruption, including trying to sell the appointment to the U.S. Senate.

"Your honor, I ask you humbly to the life of my husband and my daughter's childhood in your hands, be merciful," Patti Blagojevich wrote U.S. District Judge James Zagel in a letter read in court a lawyer Aaron Goldstein.

Goldstein then read an excerpt from a letter to the judge Amy Blagojevich. She also asked for mercy for her father.

"I needed my father," she wrote. "I need him there for my graduation from high school .... I need it, when my heart is broken."

Earlier, prosecutor Reid called Blagojevich Ball "is a very clever criminal," and lawyers acknowledged that Blagojevich had committed crimes.

Sheldon Sorosky defender told the judge that Blagojevich is committed four offenses, mostly trying to sell Senate seat held by Barack Obama before his election to the presidency. Blagojevich made the mistake of asking for work in exchange for the appointment of another possible Obama, Valerie Jarrett, to the Senate, Sorosky said.

"We accept the fact that this crime. It's illegal. He should not do it," said Sorosky.

But the lawyers say, Blagojevich has not been a leader in the conspiracy and did not profit from corruption, which he was convicted. They argue that he faces up to a little over four years in prison under sentencing guidelines, but that he should get much less time, perhaps even probation.

Prosecutors say Blagojevich has led others through criminal schemes in an attempt to raise about $ 1.6 million in tainted money campaign. They argue that he is entitled to receive up to life term in accordance with the guidelines, but recommended he could be sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison.

Zagel appeared Tuesday to build much closer to the recommendations of the Government's proposal than the defense.

"There is no doubt in his tone that he was demanding," Zagel said Blagojevich comments on telephone conversations secretly recorded by the FBI, according to The Associated Press. "His role as a leader is evident from his actions."

Sentencing hearing set to resume protection.