President Trump considering commuting Blagojevich’s sentence

Posted on February 18, 2020

By Heart of Illinois ABC

ILLINOIS – Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich could see his prison sentence commuted, ABC News reported Tuesday.

Blagojevich is currently serving a 14-year prison term on corruption charges.

ABC News reports multiple senior level sources are saying President Donald Trump “is expected to commute the sentence” of Blagojevich.

In May 2018, Trump said he was considering commuting his sentence. Several state lawmakers in Illinois and members of Congress voiced opposition to the President’s consideration last year.

Eventually, the entire Illinois Republican delegation wrote a letter addressing their concerns at the possibility of a commutation.

The letter, which had the signatures of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, Adam Kinzinger and Rodney Davis, stated, “As you well know, the integrity of our democracy and the core of American values depend on our elected officials being honest in upholding the trust given to them by the American people. Granting clemency to Rod Blagojevich would go against this trust.”

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…