CHICAGO (AP) - The Republicans in Illinois’ congressional delegation are asking President Trump not to grant former Gov. Rod Blagojevich[1] clemency.
Trump has said he is considering commuting the Democrat’s sentence for corruption. Blagojevich[2] has served about six-and-a-half years of his 14-year sentence.
Blagojevich[3], his wife Patti, has embarked on a public relations effort to get his sentence commuted. Patti Blagojevich has said she and the couple’s two children have long awaited the day “when Rod[4] could come back home where he belongs.”
However, in a letter to Trump the Republican congressmen said commuting Blagojevich[5]’s sentence would “send a damaging message on your efforts to root out public corruption in our government.”
Blagojevich[6] argued he engaged in run-of-the-mill politicking and never crossed legal lines. But prosecutors say he used his powers as governor to shake people down for campaign contributions, including a children’s hospital.Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. ...