Rod Blagojevich maintains his innocence on eve of prison term In a speech billed as his last public statement before he starts a 14-year prison term, Rod R. Blagojevich thanked the people of Illinois as he began his "dark and hard journey" and said he had been honored to serve as their governor. Blagojevich, convicted of trying to sell or trade an appointment to President Obama's vacated Senate seat and 17 other federal counts, timed his speech for precisely 5:02 p.m. to appear live on the evening news. He insisted everything he did "was on the right side of the law." Chants of "free our governor" from supporters interrupted him several times. Going to prison will be "the hardest thing I've ever had to do," he said, but added: "We are appealing the case. This is not over. We have faith in the future, faith in the rule of law.... I'll see you again. Blagojevich was impeached, convicted and removed from office before his two criminal trials. After his speech, the 55-year-old Democrat continued to talk as he walked up the steps of his Chicago home, occasionally signing autographs. He said he hoped to be an example to his daughters, ages 8 and 15, "if they see how their dad faces something like this." He has been "reading more things in religion, the Old Testament and the New Testament" to see how people faced adversity. "It's a work in progress," he said. Asked whether he was scared, he said, "They don't call it courage if you're not scared." Blagojevich, an Elvis Presley fan, also offered a musical commentary.  'Jailhouse Rock' is no longer my favorite song," he said. When he reports to a Colorado prison Thursday, he will be the second Illinois governor in a row incarcerated for corruption. George Ryan is serving time in Indiana.