Opposing a Rod Blagojevich Pardon Just as Political as His Prosecution

Newsmax ^ | January 21, 2020 | Bernard Kerik

[kiryandil]

Overzealous, out of control, and power-hungry prosecutors wanted to send a message with the Rod Blagojevich case: if you dare to have the audacity to exercise your Constitutional rights and challenge their false claims at trial, they will use the entire weight of the United States of America to destroy your reputation in the court of public opinion, and see to it that the court imposes the most devastating of fines, penalties, and prison sentences. They will do everything in their power to destroy you personally, professionally, and financially, and worse than anything else, they insure that in the end that your family and children are torn to shreds. In the former Illinois governor’s case — an unprecedented 14 years.

Let’s be clear: Blagojevich never took a dime for his personal benefit, nor did he ever accept a bribe of any kind. He never flew on fancy jets or accepted lavish gifts in exchange for his political influence as governor — and when he went to a Cubs game, he paid for his own tickets — yet he sits in a federal prison with a 14-year sentence.

And the original charge, the “selling of the Senate seat” — that sensational charge is what people remember, but it was all 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 after all — it was nothing more than routine "political logrolling," something done in the halls of Congress and state houses around the country, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

But would the prosecutors adjust his sentence following the reversal of the original charges? Absolutely not.

The following short list serves to further illustrate how disproportionate Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence is:

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[kiryandil]

Yes, Blago was too blatant - but he didn’t realize that the Uniparty Establishment was gunning for him, as an “example” of defying the will of Æthelblack the Unready, First of His Gay Chicago Bathhouse.

[lodi90]

Obama wanted to pick his successor and Blago got in the way of that.

[conservative98]

🚨🚨🚨Dems are mad at Trump for “abusing” his pardon power.
Total Presidential pardons/sentence commutations:

Carter: 566
Reagan: 406
H.W Bush: 77
Cigar Bill: 459
George W: 200
Obama: 1,927
Trump: 26

Please, by all means, educate me on abuse of power.— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 19, 2020

[trebb]

He got railroaded for political expediency - he should come pout sounding happy and grateful?