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Davis, LaHood Tell Trump: Don't Cut Blagojevich's Sentence

Rod Blagojevich
M. Spencer Green
/
AP
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich began serving his 14-year prison sentence on corruption convictions in 2012.

Bloomington-Normal's two congressmen cautioned President Trump on Monday against commuting or pardoning former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, were among seven Illinois GOP House members to sign a letter to Trump. That came in response to Trump's comments last month that he was considering commuting Blagojevich's sentence. He said Blagojevich said something dumb but that "lots of politicians" do and thinks his sentence is excessive.

In their letter, Davis and LaHood want Blagojevich to stay put. They cited Blagojevich's "pattern of behavior and unanimous impeachment," in addition to his criminal conviction.

"We ask that you (Trump) consider very carefully the precedent this may set and the impact it will have on acts of public corruption in the future," the House members wrote.

"We cannot forget that these were not victimless crimes committed by the former governor,” Davis said in a statement. “Many people in Springfield were terrorized by him, fired from their jobs, and financially destroyed by his actions. Rod Blagojevich does not deserve to be pardoned or have his sentence commuted.

"Someone as undeserving as this should not take away from the importance of sentencing reform," Davis said. "There are many examples of people who have been treated unfairly by our justice system and I continue to support President Trump’s work to right these wrongs.”

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said last week that Blagojevich should have gotten a shorter prison sentence.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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