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* Yep…
This is what lobbying for a Trump pardon looks like… https://t.co/CQF5qtOePW
— Ron Schofield (@RonSchofield) July 24, 2018
* From a Patti Blagojevich op-ed in the Washington Examiner…
So how did it all go so wrong?
Hindsight is always 20/20. Little did we know how truly corrupt the Obama-era Justice Department and FBI really were. With predawn raids, overzealous prosecutors with a flair for big, flashy press conferences and the need to secure convictions at all costs, even when the evidence suggests otherwise, we have learned the hard way how some prosecutors have weaponized their unchecked power to criminalize the routine practices of politics and government.
A few hours after the predawn raid where my husband was taken away, federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald held a press conference where he announced to the world that Rod was trying to “sell” President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat.
That sensational charge is what people remember, but it was a lie. In July 2015, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed those charges, ruling that the so-called “sale of the Senate seat” was not a crime. It was nothing more than routine “political logrolling.”
My husband fought the charges. He resisted the relentless efforts by the prosecutors bullying him to plead guilty. They even threatened him with a life sentence. But he refused to give in.
Why? Because we trusted the system, unaware that the case against him was rigged from the beginning.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, former FBI chief James Comey, and Fitzgerald have done more than enough damage to our family. Their politically biased agendas and insatiable desire to convict, even where no crimes exist, should frighten every single citizen in our country.
Mueller and Comey are two of President Trump’s “favorite” people.
But notice she doesn’t mention how her husband shook down a children’s hospital exec for bigtime campaign bucks before he’d release their state funding. Wonder why?
*** UPDATE *** Pearson takes a look…
Blagojevich, though, was arrested at his home on Dec. 9, 2008, more than a month before home-state U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was inaugurated president. […]
In reality, her husband was still convicted of wire fraud involving discussions to personally profit from selling the Senate appointment. The charges that were dropped were due to a technicality involving jury instructions. […]
On upholding the other 13 charges against the impeached former governor, Easterbrook wrote on behalf of the three-judge appellate panel that “the evidence, much of it from Blagojevich’s own mouth, is overwhelming.”
Not mentioned in Patti Blagojevich’s column were her husband’s convictions of attempting to shakedown an executive of a children’s hospital and a racetrack owner for campaign cash in exchange for official actions.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:12 am
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I am not sure that shaking down a Children’s Hospital is a disqualifying event for this President, especially if Mueller and Comey are mentioned.She probably just forgot to mention it.
Comment by Lil Squezy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:16 am
It will be interesting to see how Trump’ers here in Illinois defend the President when he does pardon this corrupt clown.
Comment by Not It Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:17 am
I am surprised she didn’t work in the phrase “there was no collusion.”
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:17 am
I get what she’s doing but the Patti Pardon tour is ugly. The dishonest sanctimony coming from their side is wildly disconnected from reality. I think the sentence was way too long, but if there’s no contrition - there should be no pardon or commutation.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:21 am
She missed some of the erogenous zones: “witch hunt”, “hoax”, “Crooked Hillary” might all have helped. Stroke Patti stroke!
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:21 am
Obama wasn’t president when Rod got arrested.
Comey was in private practice from the time Rod was arrested to when he was convicted.
And this could be entirely off base, but it definitely seemed at the time that the investigation was being led by the US Attorney’s office (Fitzgerald and Mukasey) as opposed to the FBI (Mueller).
But it’s not like her intended audience cares much for facts.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:22 am
Conveniently omitting the fact that her husband was arrested in 2008, a few months before Obama’s inauguration.
The family with such little honor appeals to another with even less. If Trump bites on this garbage idea based on Patti’s garbage rhetoric, we’ll all be worse off.
Comment by TKMH Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:23 am
Ummmm…it was the Bush-era DOJ and FBI that had them under surveillance and executed the predawn raid to arrest her husband.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:23 am
We know that Obama is Trump’s bogey man, so throwing his name out as the “bad guy” here seems like the right thing to do emotionally, but I assume Patti knows that Fitzgerald was nominated in 2001, seven whole years before Obama was elected. Also, Rod was arrested in December 2008; and Obama hadn’t even taken office yet. I realize that righties want to blame Obama for everything, but as most all of the blames, they’re way off the mark.
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:26 am
= it was the Bush-era DOJ and FBI that had them under surveillance and executed the predawn raid to arrest her husband =
Won’t matter, Trump doesn’t care about facts, only what works for his “narrative”. He only uses the best words, or so he tells us.
Comment by cover Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:26 am
–…it was the Bush-era DOJ and FBI that had them under surveillance and executed the predawn raid to arrest her husband.–
Truth is not a biggie for the intended audience of one.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:27 am
I don’t think any criticism of Patti is fair. It’s not ugly, its what a majority of the electoral college wanted. Paul Ryan just suggested that the President was trolling when he threatened security clearances. This is the world we live in.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:29 am
Do we need to go back to CapFax postings during Rod’s campaigns and first administration to review the boot-licking, excuse-making and unfounded claims of Rod’s perfection, made by some of you guys?
Blagojevich is ILDEM’S albatross, not anyone else’s.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:33 am
PB’s editorial is nowhere near trolly enough to get Trump’s attention. She will really need to up her game, and should be using Twitter to have any chance at success.
Comment by Angry Republican Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:33 am
Blago should be pardoned when he admits what he did wrong. Until then, he should rot for shaking down a children’s hospital.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:39 am
Pushing a corrupt Democrat’s nonsense revisionist history to own the libs.
Comment by LXB Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:43 am
==Blagojevich is ILDEM’S albatross, not anyone else’s.==
He’s about to be Trump’s.
Comment by PJ Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:43 am
One thing is very clear to me: Patti really does love Rod.
And she and the family miss him. It’s always been sad. He brought it upon himself entirely, and he’s victimized his own family as much as anyone else has. Maybe even more.
But, I think it’s been enough. He won’t acquire anymore remorse with more time. He’ll always be a squirrel. But, this penalty has been enough in my opinion.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:43 am
Pardoning Blago does nothing to help Trump. Not going to happen absent re-election in 2020
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:43 am
Angry Republican-
If she is not using Twitter then she needs new counsel. Patti, try ALL CAPS. PEOPLE USED TO WRITE OFF PEOPLE WHO USED ALL CAPS AS INTERNET CRAZIES! NOT ANYMORE! SAY SOMETHING LIKE ROD WAS THE BEST AND MOST LOVED GOVERNOR IN ILLINOS HISTORY! REMEMBER TO MISSPELL ILLINOIS FOR ADDED EFFECT!
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:45 am
The fact that there are Asian Carp making their way towards Lake Michigan are Obamas fault, even though he wasn’t President at the time.
Comment by Mike Cirrincione Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:47 am
==Not going to happen absent re-election in 2020==
Sincerely doubt this is even in the calculus. If we’ve learned anything, this President does what he wants when he wants.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:51 am
Blagojevich still claims innocence.
No pardon.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:51 am
Rauner shuns his party’s president publically, and pardoning Rod would help Rauner. Trump fired Rod back in the day, and he would fire Bruce as well.
No pardon should be expected, even from a president famous for the unexpected.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 10:54 am
The President would not be hurt by pardoning Rod. I can’t imagine anyone saying, “I was going to vote Trump, but the Blago pardon was too much for me”
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 11:00 am
–Do we need to go back to CapFax postings during Rod’s campaigns and first administration to review the boot-licking, excuse-making and unfounded claims of Rod’s perfection, made by some of you guys?–
By all means, do so. I double-dog dare you. Good luck.
Bill’s dead, you know?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 11:04 am
Blagojevich is a 3rd string Trumpist. A short hitter compared to Trumps: Ego, Narcissism, Childishness, Selfishness, Meaness, Episodic Dimness/Stupidity, (you’ve heard them all).
At different levels, but their arrogance/lack of remorse are very similar. No pardon. Who would believe Blagojevich was truly repentant? Remember- whenever he IS let out, the Blagojevich Revolting Circus will return with a vengeance. No pardon.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 11:11 am
Sandi Jackson called. She thinks Patti should be grateful that she isn’t going to prison too.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 11:35 am
Lets not forget Blago had two trials and 23 out 24 jurors voted to convict him.
Patti, that isn’t a “rigged” system, that’s called “Justice”.
Comment by Soapbox Derby Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 11:45 am
LS, good start but you need to add a few sprinkles of FAKE NEWS.
Comment by Angry Republican Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 11:46 am
The evil time-traveling Obama strikes again!
Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Rod did what everyone else did and he never figured out he is in prison because of the specific language he used on the phone. Many past and current politicians do the same thing, but don’t use the overt language.
Clearly there was political motive for who did and did not get prosecuted. But Rod deserved what he got.
Don’t search for a merit issue here. This is simply a matter of Trump being able to incinerate the state of IL politically by releasing him.
It sounds insane, so at this point I’m going 50/50.
Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 12:40 pm
Might I suggest sending Trump a photo of Rod and Putin arm n arm. She could photoshop one if need be. Might just be enough to push Trump in the desired result.
Comment by Generic Drone Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:17 pm
My favorite passage from the op-ed:
“Through high school and later during college, he took multiple blue-collar jobs: working in factories, in construction industry, and delivering pizzas. It was that work ethic and drive to succeed that helped Rod get elected to the Illinois House, Congress, and twice as governor of Illinois. Rod won 14 elections in a row.”
What she should have said was “that work ethic, coupled with the entirety of the 33rd Ward precinct organization along with my father’s arm twisting and backroom dealings, helped Rod get elected to the Illinois House, Congress, and twice as governor of Illinois.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:40 pm
Can you imagine how insufferable both Rod and Patti would be if Trump sprung Rod from prison early? They’d convince each other that Rod was railroaded and then immediately fail to show even a smidge of contrition. I can’t stomach the thought.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:51 pm
===Bill’s dead, you know?===
Whoops.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separaion Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 3:13 pm
Six Degrees, nice. Bill would like that.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:06 pm
BTW, Patti’s sob story about Rod’s hard scrabble upbringing reminds me of a story Rod used to love to tell. I literally heard him tell this story on several occasions with only the year and office changing. Rod: “fifteen years ago, I was shining shoes and now I’m governor of Illinois. Boy did I marry well or what?”
“Sandi Jackson called. She thinks Patti should be grateful that she isn’t going to prison too.”
Brilliant and 100% right, 47. No remorse. No contrition. No pardon. Period.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:15 pm
Pardon, no. Commutation, ratify the conviction but knock the rest of the prison time off, that seems reasonable. Rod’s sentence is excessive. He did not succeed at his extortion attempts. Rod is guilty, but justice demands that the punishment fits the crime. His sentence is out of whack because of his shenanigans. The world wouldn’t stop spinning if he did 9 or 10 years of his 14 year sentence.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:21 pm
I’m thinking an expression of repentance will not be a prime motivator for Trump to grant a pardon. Sticking it in Comey’s, the FBI’s and the Justice Department’s eye would be a prime motivator.
So, there’s two scenarios I can think of as for what a Blagojevich pardon would look like:
1) He stays close to home and family life, zips his lip, and plots a course for supporting his family in a non-political, under-the-radar way, or
2) He barnstorms the state on a rewrite-history, fingerpointing crusade…possibly adding a dirty tinge to any anticipated blue wave in Illinois politics.
Can you imagine the serious bounty offered by IPI types for any photograph of JB and Rod in a room or event at the same time?
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:35 pm
======Bill’s dead, you know?===
Whoops. ====
RIP Bill. And that was the funniest thing ever posted on this blog
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 5:49 pm