Rod Blagojevich is taking his corruption appeal to the Supreme Court.

Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor is serving a 14-year prison term for corruption

Blagojevich is taking his case to the U.S. appeals court to overturn his sentence and throw out the guilty verdicts. Blagojevich was convicted by two federal court juries. 

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is appealing his 2011 corruption conviction.

Five years ago this week, Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, was arrested on charges he abused his power by trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat to the successor to then-President-elect Barack Obama. Blagojevich tried to wangle campaign cash or a new job in exchange for the seat.

Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office. In 2010, Glagojevich was tried on a 24-count indictment. The trial ended with jurors deadlocked on all but the last charge. The ex-governor was found guilty of lying to federal agents. The following year, Blagojevich was retried and convicted on 17 of 20 counts. 

Rod Blagojevich claims he was making standard political moves when he was caught on tape trying to secure a possible a Cabinet position, or take money, in return for appointing Valerie Jarrett as President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate in 2008.

The recording caught Rod Glagojevich sayomg "It's a f---ing valuable thing. You just don't give it away for nothing. "If I don't get what I want ... I'll just take the Senate seat myself." 

Valerie Jarrett was a senior adviser in the Obama White House at the time. Neither Jarrett nor Obama have been accused of wrongdoing.

In the end, Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris. His appointment was upheld after a legal battle and Burris served in the Senate for just under two years in the Senate. Rod Blagojevich was impeached. He was later prosecuted.

In the filing opposing Blagojevich's motion (PDF), which was 169-pages, Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Riggs Bonamici wrote that the "evidence was overwhelming" that Blagojevich was looking to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder and that broke the law. Evidence from the Blagojevich's trial showed that from supporters of then-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., offered Blagojevich $1.5 million if he would appoint Jackson to Obama's seat. 
Bonamici wrote "Blagojevich led, organized, and directed substantially more than five government and fundraising employees and outside consultants, whom he used to assist him in exchanging official acts for personal benefits."