Pearson: Blagojevich can run for Congress

Posted on February 20, 2020
Rod Blagojevich spoke to reporters Wednesday in Chicago for the first time since he returned home from prison. (Photo ABC News)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Many are still in shock and wondering why President Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Blagojevich’s convictions included seeking to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president, trying to shake down a children’s hospital. Trump told reporters that the 14-year sentence was too long for the crime.

Chicago Tribune chief political reporter Rick Pearson has covered Illinois politics for 30 years.  He spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller about the president’s actions.

“All you can do with Trump is kind of speculate, but Thursday is the scheduled sentencing of his long time ally Roger Stone,” he said.  “The fact that he issued a batch of commutation and pardons Tuesday, it makes everyone kind of wonder if this is the prelude to now post impeachment and feeling a certain level of freedom to embark on other pardons and commutations to those most direcly close to him that were caught up in the Muller investigation,” said Pearson.

If Blagojevich wanted to run for office he only can federally. Pearson said when the former governor was impeached he was banned from running for any state office. There’s no prohibition against Blagojevich if he wanted to run for Congress.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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