Lawmakers send strong message to President against commuting Blagojevich

Republican lawmakers from Illinois’ House of Representives including Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), and John Shimkus (R-Ill.) took issue with President Trump saying that he is “very strongly” considering commuting former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s 14 prison sentence. In a letter delivered to President Trump in June of 2018 lawmakers said “Illinois has gone through a difficult period of public corruption in the past, with several of our recent governors falling into corruption charges and convictions.” “During his tenure in the governor’s office, Rod Blagojevich participated in several pay-to-play practices in which he attempted to solicit money in exchange for official public acts. Two examples include withholding $8 to $10 million in reimbursement money from Children’s Memorial Hospital until they agreed to contribute over $50,000 to his campaign and withholding the signing of a piece of legislation beneficial to race tracks until one of the race track owners agreed to a $100,000 campaign contribution.” “We believe it important to take into account both the findings of his impeachment trial by the Illinois General Assembly, as well as his lengthy criminal trials, appeals, and ultimate denial by the United States Supreme Court.” Lawmakers hope the President will here the words and not commute Blagojevich’s sentence of which he still has 7 years left to serve.