Posted on 02/19/2020 2:24:24 PM PST by kiryandil
Overzealous, out of control, and power-hungry prosecutors wanted to send a message with the Rod Blagojevich case: if you dare to have the audacity to exercise your Constitutional rights and challenge their false claims at trial, they will use the entire weight of the United States of America to destroy your reputation in the court of public opinion, and see to it that the court imposes the most devastating of fines, penalties, and prison sentences. They will do everything in their power to destroy you personally, professionally, and financially, and worse than anything else, they insure that in the end that your family and children are torn to shreds. In the former Illinois governor’s case — an unprecedented 14 years.
Let’s be clear: Blagojevich never took a dime for his personal benefit, nor did he ever accept a bribe of any kind. He never flew on fancy jets or accepted lavish gifts in exchange for his political influence as governor — and when he went to a Cubs game, he paid for his own tickets — yet he sits in a federal prison with a 14-year sentence.
And the original charge, the “selling of the Senate seat” — that sensational charge is what people remember, but it was all a lie.
In July 2015, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed those charges, ruling that the so-called "sale of the Senate seat" was not a crime after all — it was nothing more than routine "political logrolling," something done in the halls of Congress and state houses around the country, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
But would the prosecutors adjust his sentence following the reversal of the original charges? Absolutely not.
The following short list serves to further illustrate how disproportionate Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence is:
continued...
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Last August, when President Trump was considering commuting Rod’s prison sentence, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a fellow Democrat, released a statement through his spokesperson saying that Rod Blagojevich is “in prison, where he belongs.” And that message got back to Trump.
But in 2008 when Rod was governor, Pritzker was singing a different tune — and in a phone call recorded by FBI wiretaps, he was caught on tape asking Blagojevich to appoint him Illinois Treasurer...
Scumbag & dirty prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was involved in the railroading.
Mixed feelings on this one. Rod didn’t do himself any favors in talking about how eight years had been stolen from him. I didn’t think it came off well; I didn’t like it when he appeared to be selling his office to the highest bidder, either. But he did serve a full eight years. I’m surprised that he didn’t get out early for good behavior—don’t most people?
Patrick Fitzgerald was also the guy who persecuted Conrad Black.
Just like with cops, it seems certain abusive individuals with a need-to-exercise-control-over-others are attracted by the immense power of prosecutions
Then, he would have been eligible for parole.
The scumbag muppets threw the book at him.
Yeah, the jug-eared Kenyan POS made an example out of Blago.
Get it done, President Trump.
I live in Illinois and I was not aware that the “sale of a Senate seat” ended up being ruled a non-crime.
What exactly was the man convicted of then?
Yes, he was. I remember Scooteer Libby. Bush(43), at least, tried to help.
Attempting to sell the seat to...
Obama
Someone else got it done but he was convicted
Anyone who knows Illinois Politics understands that no one draws breath unless Mike Madigan says it is ok
He and the Dems have a death grip there and having lived there for 15+ years it is a Generational issue
They may whine but the population of the “Collar Counties) Cook et all over rules all the rest of the state
And the people there for generations past, present and future vote Democrat reflexively
I think they have a masochistic streak
Hopeless
“In July 2015, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed those charges, ruling that the so-called “sale of the Senate seat” was not a crime after all — it was nothing more than routine “political logrolling,” something done in the halls of Congress and state houses around the country, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
So if that was all he was convicted of his conviction would have been overturned. He must have been found guilty of something else.
Nope
Look it up and if you find more please share
On August 17, 2010, he was convicted on one of the 24 federal charges, a charge of lying to the FBI, and the jury was hung on 23 other counts. The defense did not call a single witness, claiming that prosecutors did not prove their case. Because the jury could not agree on the remaining charges, a mistrial was ordered for those counts. Within 15 minutes after the mistrial was declared, the prosecution team announced that they would definitely pursue a retrial on the 23 mistrial counts. A post-verdict court date was set for August 23, 2010.
Federal prosecutors reduced the number of counts for Blagojevich's retrial, and on June 27, 2011, he was found guilty of 17 of the 20 remaining charges, not guilty on one, and no verdict was rendered by the jury on two counts.
He was found guilty on all charges pertaining to the Senate seat, as well as extortion relating to state funds being directed towards a children's hospital and race track. However, he was acquitted on a charge pertaining to the tollway extortion and avoided a guilty verdict (by split decision) on attempting to extort Rahm Emanuel.
On December 7, 2011, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
From NY Times: Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat who former aides say once envisioned himself as a future presidential contender, was found guilty of most of the 20 federal counts against him: 17 counts of wire fraud, attempted extortion, soliciting bribes, conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes.
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Sounds like a Chicago "day at the office" to me.
The usual Fed "charge-larding" to coerce the target to give in.
Surprised Fitz didn't go after the wife and kiddies.
Blago was lucky he didn't have a son old enough to go after - unlike Mike Flynn...
The usual Fed blizzard of BS charges to get the target to knuckle under.
The usual Fed blizzard of BS charges to get the target to knuckle under.
Yup, and Madigan still rules the state and unless you live outside the collar counties (Think Yoke)the greater population there overwhelms the rest of the state
I loved seeing Chicago in my rear view mirror
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich_corruption_charges
On July 21, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturned four of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's 18 convictions, stating that proposals to exchange promises for appointments "is a common exercise in logrolling".
The Supreme Court of the United States announced on March 28, 2016, that they had deferred the option to hear the appeal, which instead went to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
On August 9, 2016, U.S. District Judge James Zagel ruled that despite the four dropped charges, reports of good behavior, and pleas for leniency, Blagojevich's 14-year sentence would stand.
In making his decision, Zagel noted that "these are serious crimes that had an impact on the people of Illinois." and it's "an unfortunate reality" that Blagojevich's family members are made to suffer consequences. Patti Blagojevich commented on the sentence, calling it "unusually cruel and heartless and unfair".
Bug-swatted by the Establishment.
To remember what RINO IL gov said on talk radio about Blago’s indictment:
He was to blatant. You have to be subtle ... like I was.
All that needed to be said. This scumbag is as crooked as a dogs hind leg.
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