President Trump appears to be backing off his plans to commute ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s sentence after receiving calls from state lawmakers against such an action.
Several Illinois GOP lawmakers have lobbied the president, some directly, against releasing Blagojevich from prison. Illinois House Reps. Darin LaHood, John Shimkus, Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis, and Mike Bost released a joint statement last week opposing to the move.
“It’s important that we take a strong stand against pay-to-play politics, especially in Illinois where four of our last eight Governors have gone to federal prison for public corruption,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “Commuting the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, who has a clear and documented record of egregious corruption, sets a dangerous precedent and goes against the trust voters place in elected officials.”
LaHood and Bost took their case directly to the president in phone conversations on Thursday night, according to CNN. The Illinois Republicans warned that commuting the disgraced former governor’s sentence would send a bad message.
LaHood also brought up allegations that Blagojevich attempted to shake down the CEO of a children’s hospital by threatening to cut off state funds to the medical center.
“I wish I had the perspective before,” Trump said according to Bost.
Trump tweeted about Blagojevich’s on Thursday night, writing that “White House staff is continuing the review of this matter.”
[Opinion: Don’t let Rod Blagojevich off the hook]
Rod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has served 7 years. Many people have asked that I study the possibility of commuting his sentence in that it was a very severe one. White House staff is continuing the review of this matter.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2019
Blagojevich is seven years into a 14-year sentence after he was convicted on corruption charges related to a phone call in which the former governor said he wanted to sell then President Barack Obama’s Senate seat.
“I’ve got this thing and it’s [expletive] golden,” Blagojevich said in a phone call secretly recorded by FBI agents. “I’m not just giving it up for [expletive] nothing.”
