CHICAGO Judge sets Blagojevich bond, denying government bid to raise it

(Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday ordered former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who awaits sentencing on multiple convictions, to post $450,000 bond, secured by the equity in two properties.
U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel denied a government request to set the bond at $1 million -- a figure Blagojevich, 54, would have been hard pressed to meet since his two properties only have $600,000 in equity in them.
In June, a jury convicted Blagojevich, a two-term Democratic governor, on 17 counts, including a charge he tried to sell President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.
Zagel did not set a sentencing date for Blagojevich on Friday.