Blagojevich lawyers file new appeal claim
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Jurors convicted the Democrat on multiple corruption counts, including that he tried to swap an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat for campaign money or a job.
Wednesday’s two-page filing with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refers to an April Supreme Court decision striking down laws that restrict aggregate limits on campaign contributions.
Defense lawyers say that ruling also indicated the solicitation of contributions was corruption only when a politician gave a clear promise to take some official action in exchange for the donation. They say Blagojevich never made such promises.
- Archiesmom - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 12:59 pm:
This is the icing on today’s Cap Fax cake.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 1:02 pm:
Pull out all the stops.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 1:14 pm:
Blago who?….
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 1:15 pm:
Any chance they could spring him in late October…
- Nieva - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
Let him out about the time Jr. is released and they can open a used car lot. Call it Skin um and grin um.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 1:35 pm:
I call Joe Walsh for the win!
- Stones - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 1:51 pm:
“I’ve got this thing and it’s f..ing golden”
If that doesn’t suggest a solicitation for a bribe or contribution I’ll eat my hat.
- Black Ivy - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
I am hopeful that justice will be served and former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s exorbitant 14-year sentence be will be reduced. The punishment simply does not fit the crime. #period
- John A Logan - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 2:12 pm:
Blago. The gift that keeps on giving.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 4:51 pm:
It’s worth a shot. In that McCutcheon opinion, the Supremes set a very high bar for what constitutes quid pro quo corruption.
- Mister M - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 5:49 pm:
They give. You go.
But it’s not a quid pro quo.
It’s a smoking gun we need,
not just all the hints of greed.
You pay and he’ll do your bidding,
it’s just Illinois - you kidding?
So, let his lawyers try to tell
why he’s wrongly in that cell,
and say his freedom we wrongly took,
but all know better - he’s just a crook.
- Hotel Ibiza - Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 9:07 pm:
Who’s paying the Blagojevich’s lawyers these days? Thought the Blagojevich’s were broke. Illinois is a better place without you.
- steve schnorf - Thursday, Jul 17, 14 @ 1:01 am:
I agree with Black Ivy. In my opinion there is no justification for such an excessive term for the crimes he committed. No additional purpose is served.
- Mister M - Thursday, Jul 17, 14 @ 7:51 am:
“no justification for such an excessive term for the crimes he committed”
I disagree. The sentence obviously fell within the sentencing guidelines. The crimes were so egregious to the people of the state and such behavior is almost jokingly tolerated as part of the state’s reputation, that perhaps the sentence will at least give others some pause before going down a similar path.