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Trump's commutation of Blagojevich sentence sparks anger from Illinois House Republican leader
Fox News ^ | Feb. 18,2020 | Louis Casiano

Posted on 02/18/2020 4:00:19 PM PST by Leaning Right

The Illinois House Republican leader blasted President Trump on Tuesday for granting clemency to former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat after he was elected president.

"It's very disappointing," Jim Durkin told reporters in the state capitol in Springfield. “We have a massive federal investigation into corruption in the state of Illinois and this action distracts and dilutes what I think is the proper role of the Department of Justice — to root out corruption,”

He said Blagojevich was "rouge on steroids" during his tenure as governor.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: blagojevich; commutation; corruption; illinois; rouge
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To: colorado tanker
This is a commutation, not a pardon. Trump seems to be saying the sentence was excessive for Blag's conduct.

What's the appropriate sentence for trying to sell a seat in the US Senate to the highest bidder?

61 posted on 02/18/2020 5:01:23 PM PST by Bubba Ho-Tep ("The rat always knows when he's in with weasels."--Tom Waits)
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To: Texan5

Could have been spell-check sabotage.


62 posted on 02/18/2020 5:01:50 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (If you don't recognize that as sarcasm you are dumber than a bag of hammers.)
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To: reg45

Or spell-check may have helpfully changed it.


63 posted on 02/18/2020 5:02:43 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (If you don't recognize that as sarcasm you are dumber than a bag of hammers.)
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To: Leaning Right

So far Fox News is the only news outlet correctly referring to this as a commutation. Even the Slimes is using the term pardon. Also saw it on the news this evening, a former FBI director using the term pardon. So which is it?


64 posted on 02/18/2020 5:05:41 PM PST by RushCrush (Prayers up for Rush Hudson Limbaugh)
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To: Bubba Ho-Tep
Optics. It’s a hedge against those in the DNC/MSM complex who would trash POTUS’ commuting Stone’s sentence, et cetera, as entirely political. Is it a completely effective strategy? ‘Course not. But it does provide some cover, not that ANY cover is.needed.

Then again, I could be completely FOS... not like it hasn’t happened before.
65 posted on 02/18/2020 5:07:23 PM PST by LIConFem (I will no longer accept the things I cannot change. it's time to change the things I cannot accept)
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To: Bubba Ho-Tep
What's the appropriate sentence for trying to sell a seat in the US Senate to the highest bidder?

Dunno. Maybe that's why I'm not a judge or the President.

66 posted on 02/18/2020 5:08:00 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: poinq

SPOT ON...BRAVO; finally someone else who understand this!


67 posted on 02/18/2020 5:10:25 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Leaning Right

Blago was given 14 years for a phonecall basically on an extortion charge that carries 5-14. He’s served 8 years. With 2/3rds off for good behavior he should have walked 3 years ago. With 1/3 off he’s still done.

Not about liking him or condoning betrayal of public trust. It’s about a justice system gone wild who punishes people arbitrarily.

USA average and maximum sentences:
https://bflawmd.com/average-maximum-jail-time-common-crimes/


68 posted on 02/18/2020 5:11:00 PM PST by blueplum ( ("...this moment is your moment: it belo3 ngs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017))
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To: Bonemaker

Why...because you’re an idiot, a secret libturd, or don’t know what you’re talking about? pick one or all three choices.


69 posted on 02/18/2020 5:11:57 PM PST by nopardons
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To: caww
But Blago NEVER even tried to "sell" wee barry's seat! All he did was say something that sort of/kind of alluded to it on a tapped phone call.

It was the way that FAR WORSE Dem CRIMINALS "got" him.

70 posted on 02/18/2020 5:14:34 PM PST by nopardons
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To: LIConFem

The problem is that there is absolutely no one in the Democratic party who is a fan of Blagojevich or thought that he got a raw deal in any way. The Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 to impeach him, and the State Senate voted 59-0 to convict. Among the other federal crimes he was convicted of was trying to get a children’s hospital to give him a $50,000 campaign contribution in return for backing a bill to expand health care for kids.


71 posted on 02/18/2020 5:17:38 PM PST by Bubba Ho-Tep ("The rat always knows when he's in with weasels."--Tom Waits)
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To: Bubba Ho-Tep

It is called EQUAL justice for all, just because he is a Dem the sentence was OVER THE TOP and the Dems screwed him for not towing the line with them!!


72 posted on 02/18/2020 5:18:27 PM PST by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: Trump Girl Kit Cat
You're correct, but forget D.C. Dem crimes...rather, look at the Chicago/Ill. pols crimes!

For example, Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife actually DID steal money and much worse and got off with a slap on the wrist, but Blago basically got 14 years for a "crime" ( selling Obama's seat ) that he did NOT do!

73 posted on 02/18/2020 5:19:14 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Hot Tabasco
So very sorry about your brother! :-(

Blago has actually served EIGHT years behind bars.

74 posted on 02/18/2020 5:22:03 PM PST by nopardons
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To: tomkat

The media is not telling the whole story. There’s a shocker.
.
Blagojevich was prosecuted by the incredibly sanctimonious Patrick Fitzgerald. This guy is an unbelievably obnoxious horse’s arse. Is it possible to be any more self-righteous than Comey, who happens to be one of Fitzgerald’s best friends going back decades? I guess they are about even.

Fitzgerald prosecuted Scooter Libby for false statements made in an investigation of a crime he had already solved. That is, he sent the FBI to question Libby while already knowing that the real leaker was deep state favorite Colin Powell’s chief deputy Richard Armitage.

He sent Conrad Black to prison on a terribly questionable case.

In the Blago case, the feeling among many conservatives at the time was that Blago had disrespected Obama and the Chicago political machine by not letting them pick Obama’s replacement. Yes, there is way more to it than that and the guy is a dirtbag which is which this was a commutation rather than a pardon. But Trump obviously viewed his prosecution as substantially (not wholly) political and selective. I know that because that is how many of us here at FR viewed the case at the time.

So I suggest everyone offended by this commutation dive a little deeper into the history of the case before criticizing our great President.


75 posted on 02/18/2020 5:22:05 PM PST by Stingray51
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To: blueplum
With 2/3rds off for good behavior he should have walked 3 years ago. With 1/3 off he’s still done.

Not in the federal system. One year of good behavior in a federal prison gets you 54 days off your sentence.

76 posted on 02/18/2020 5:22:26 PM PST by Bubba Ho-Tep ("The rat always knows when he's in with weasels."--Tom Waits)
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To: Magnatron

Except he was not pardoned. His sentence was commuted.


77 posted on 02/18/2020 5:23:06 PM PST by hsmomx3
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To: nopardons

nopardons, state or federal Trump is looking at this BS through the eyes of someone who is going through it!! Doesn’t matter Trump sees these bastards who have done worse with NO JUSTICE at all, I think Trump did the right thing and I totally understand his thinking on this. The commutation is fine with me this man needs to get home to his family he has done enough time!! EQUAL justice for ALL Dem or otherwise!!!


78 posted on 02/18/2020 5:25:09 PM PST by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: Bubba Ho-Tep

Which Blago NEVER did, just sort of talked about, maybe, coulda, kinda might do some day.


79 posted on 02/18/2020 5:25:12 PM PST by nopardons
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To: blueplum

Thank you for posting actual facts!


80 posted on 02/18/2020 5:26:30 PM PST by nopardons
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