GUILTY IL - Governor Rod Blagojevich in Federal Custody

[Softail]

Prosecutors respond to Blagojevich appeal

Prosecutors have urged a federal appeals court to reject former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s legal challenges to his conviction and 14-year prison sentence on sweeping corruption charges, arguing in a lengthy filing that Blagojevich’s behavior was anything but the typical political horse-trading he claimed.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that Blagojevich’s attempts to paint himself as a politician engaged in typical negotiations were laughable.

“No matter the price he charges, a public official who sells his office engages in crime, not politics,” the filing stated. “Blagojevich claims that he was convicted based on acts constituting nothing more than common, everyday political horse trading,” the filing went on to say. “In light of the evidence, this is an extraordinary claim.”


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...o-blagojevich-appeal-20131113,0,4628448.story

 

[Softail]

Judges hear arguments today on Blagojevich appeal

Five years after Rod Blagojevich's sensational arrest on corruption charges, the former governor's appeal of his conviction and 14-year prison sentence is set for oral arguments this morning before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The arguments are slated to start at 9:30 a.m. on the 27th floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. Each side will have 30 minutes to make its case before a three-member panel of judges. A ruling will likely come weeks to months later.

On her Facebook page this week, Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, urged supporters to attend the hearing.

“A show of support would mean a lot to us,” she wrote.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...n-blagojevich-appeal-20131213,0,3869182.story

 

[0101ABA]

At different times in his colorful life, Rod Blagojevich has been a Golden Gloves boxer, an attorney and disgraced former governor of Illinois. Now behind bars in a federal penitentiary in suburban Denver, Blagojevich has become a tutor, mentor and the lead singer in an Elvis Presley-inspired group of convicted musicians.

(...)

At the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, he has led the “Jailhouse Rockers,” a name taken from one of Presley’s biggest hits: “Jailhouse Rock,” released in 1957.

http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/29/rod-blagojevich-rock-band-colorado-prison/

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

You are selfish and spineless': Daughter of disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich hits out at Obama for refusing to pardon her father

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ama-not-commuting-sentence.html#ixzz4WyQFOhcL

 

[Seattle1]

Trump says he's considering commutation for Blagojevich

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's "very strongly" considering commuting the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is serving a 14-year prison term on multiple federal corruption convictions.

Trump suggested more than a year ago that he was considered a commutation for Blagojevich, who then filed paperwork requesting a commutation.

The president told reporters Wednesday night while returning to Washington aboard Air Force One that he thought Blagojevich, a Democrat, had been treated "unbelievably unfairly."

Trump says he's taking into consideration Blagojevich's wife and children and what was, in his view, mere braggadocio.

 

[Seattle1]

The New York Times is reporting that President Donald Trump is “strongly considering” commuting the 14-year prison sentence of Rod R. Blagojevich, citing remarks he made on Air Force One as well as two people familiar with the president's plans.

Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor, was convicted of trying to trade President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat for personal gain.

The Times reports that Trump described the incriminating phone call in which Blagojevich was taped discussing selling the seat as mostly a minor offense and something “many” politicians have done.

“I thought he was treated unbelievably unfairly; he was given close to 18 years in prison,” Trump said aboard Air Force One during his daylong swing through Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, in the wake of two deadly shootings there over the weekend. “And a lot of people thought it was unfair, like a lot of other things — and it was the same gang, the Comey gang and all these sleazebags that did it. And his name is Rod Blagojevich. And I’m thinking about commuting his sentence.”

Trump on Blago: 'I'm thinking of commuting his sentence'