* Press release…

FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR LAHOOD LEADS LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP OPPOSING BLAGOJEVICH PARDON/COMMUTATION
Letter Signed by Every House Republican from Illinois

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood sent a letter to President Trump arguing against a pardon and/or a commutation for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Rep. LaHood, a former Assistant United States Attorney with the US Department of Justice, led the letter with the support of every Illinois Republican member of Congress, laying out the many public corruption crimes and the illegal activity committed by the governor during his administration and the need to stand strong against pay-to-play politics in Illinois and across the country. Congressman LaHood and every Illinois Republican in Congress believe that pardoning such a clearly corrupt politician would set a dangerous precedent and send the wrong message regarding elected officials who violate the public trust.

The letter states:
While we understand that, as president, you have the privilege and right under our Constitution to grant pardons and clemency as you determine fit, we ask that you consider very carefully the precedent this may set and the impact it will have on acts of public corruption in the future. As you well know, the integrity of our democracy and the core of American values depend on our elected officials being honest in upholding the trust given to them by the American people. Granting clemency to Rod Blagojevich would go against this trust.

The full letter is here. It makes some very good points, including the fact that President Trump’s own Solicitor General asked the US Supreme Court not to take up Blagojevich’s last appeal, calling it “unwarranted.”