G: Blagojevich doesn’t deserve leniency
Tuesday, Jul 26, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
Rod Blagojevich broke his silence from prison last year, vowing he “must fight on” and “what is at stake is nothing less than the rule of law.”
Late Monday night, federal prosecutors threw those words back in the former governor’s face as he nears a key turning point in the battle for his freedom. They wrote in a court filing that Blagojevich’s comments “demonstrate a complete lack of acceptance of responsibility.”
“In the absence of acceptance, it cannot be said that the defendant has been rehabilitated or that he is deserving of leniency,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Riggs Bonamici wrote.
Prosecutors want U.S. District Judge James Zagel to reinstate Blagojevich’s original 14-year prison sentence at a hearing next month, scheduled after an appeals court tossed five of the former governor’s 18 criminal convictions last year and ordered his resentencing.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:19 am:
Rod’s mouth always has been his problem.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:19 am:
I would certainly hate to deprive the band of it’s founder. Let him stay for 14.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:25 am:
I think Blagojevich was guilty of everything he was accused of but if I had 5 counts thrown out on me because it was determined that those things weren’t illegal I would be emboldened too, and would say so.
- Illinois Bob - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:26 am:
I just don’t get it. Why not plea a mea culpa and get the heck out, and be allowed to dye his hair again? He can rejoin his family and have some semblance of a life again. I’m sure his wife Patti can support them with her clout. What is she doing for income these days?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:27 am:
Rod can’t not be Rod for 5 minutes.
Ugh. Can’t help those who don’t want to be helped.
Rod has always been his worst enemy.
- Groucho - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:28 am:
To bad for Blago that he didn’t have other principals in his life that he would have stood behind vehemently.
- Emmanuel Can't - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:43 am:
So, 28% of the convictions were tossed. Why not reduce his sentence by 28%? 10 years in the slammer is still a pretty tough sentence.
- downstate commissioner - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Doing my “best to be civilized and smart” with Rauner on here; don’t feel the same way about him: let him rot.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:50 am:
Every time he opens his mouth, I wish they could extend the sentence. T. S, Hot Rod.
- Buster crab - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 10:03 am:
The country at large sees Blagojevich as a lovable rascal, a comical stereotype of a crooked Illinois politician.
We have since had to suffer under two incompetent Governors, so we may forget the real damage Blagojevich did to the state.
I doubt he is capable of feeling responsibility or remorse for his actions. Blagojevich is undeserving of sympathy.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 11:15 am:
I’ve never liked linking repentance to time served in general. Think beyond Blago: we know that innocent people are convicted all the time. Why should they have to lie and admit guilt/act sorry if they want to reduce their sentence? Why should one’s acting ability (does anyone think you can trust a display of repentance with so much on the line?) affect time served?
If you do the crime, do the time - but let’s measure the time objectively.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 11:31 am:
reduce the sentence. waste of prison space.
- Illinois Bob - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 11:38 am:
The sad thing is that he was hit bigtime to serve as a deterrence to politicians considering peddling their influence for money.
Does anyone really think nailing him had a deterrent effect on behavior of crooked politicians?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 11:47 am:
Given the lack of federal prosecution of recent activities,Blago should get a reduced sentence based on the fact of the 5 of 18 charges dismissed.
- Ghost - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
I wonder if Trump will hire Rod when he is released….
- Jim Gierach - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 12:47 pm:
Let him out. Ridiculous sentence for a big mouth with bigger dreams and a weakness for the temptations implicit with political power.
- Angry Republican - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
Reduced sentence in exchange for shaving his head and remaining bald until the original 14 year sentence is up.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
He doesn’t appreciate the seriousness of his crimes now nor will he at the end of his sentence. People don’t repent from things they don’t see as wrong. He’ll be the same smug, arrogant person when he’s released. The only difference will be his relevance.
- Retired - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 1:16 pm:
The re-sentence of 14 years should begin when the judge rules. Time served does not count/
- Joe - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
Tack on another five.
- Belle - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
Let him stew in his juices for another year or 2 and let him out. I cannot imagine that he’s ever going to work in politics again.
He does NEED to learn to keep his mouth buttoned up.
Once out, I hope he doesn’t find Cap Fax? It might (Blago commenting) be good for a few weeks but then…way too much.
- walker - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
Leniency no. Fairness yes.
When you overturn some of the counts, it only makes sense to reduce some of the time. Otherwise it calls into question the rationale for the original sentence itself.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 6:25 pm:
As much as I’m tempted to say, “lose the jailhouse keys,” I think walker’s line of argument is probably the best one, provided Rod keeps his trap shut.
- Way Way Down Here - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 9:46 pm:
Walker’s argument yes, but lord he will never learn.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 5:33 am:
Quinn needs to join Blago sharing a jail cell. Quinn used $55,000,000 ear marked for reducing violence on Chicago’s most crime riddled neighborhoods, and instead used the money, funneled to non for profits, and to political friends (Just look up Dorothy Brown) to promote his re election.
Quinn has the blood of a number of black men and women on his hands.
Where is Black Lives Matter on this issue?