I am sure that I am in the minority, but I support the decision President Donald Trump made to commute the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Though pompous and arrogant, Blagojevich was imprisoned for eight years longer than many convicted felons who committed crimes involving violence.
How much will taxpayers save on his room, board and health care costs? And he’s 63. The chances of him feoffending are virtually nonexistent.
He can be a father now to his two daughters, innocent victims of his corruption.
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I, like millions of other life-long residents of Illinois, was outraged by Blagojevich’s crimes. But putting emotions and a desire for vengeance aside, commuting his sentence was the right thing to do.
Antonio Acevedo, Bucktown
Commuted sentence sends the wrong message
President Trump’s decision to release Rod Blagojevich six years early wasn’t the right thing to do. Neither Republicans or Democrats are happy with his decision.
Trump acknowledged he wasn’t familiar with Blagojevich’s case, he was simply sympathetic to Blagojevich’s family. Trump and Blagojevich have one thing in common: neither ever acknowledges the truth. Blagojevich still believes he did nothing wrong and was treated unfairly. He believes he got an unfairly long sentence to send a message that government officials will be jailed for corruption.
Blagojevich says he wants to put an end the corruption of the criminal justice system, but he’s in denial about his own corruption. He wants the residents of Illinois to believe he was only doing the things governors do — how ignorant does he think we are?
Trump’s commutation reinforces the belief that high-profile government officials who are found guilty of corruption will be given favorable treatment, while ordinary people must serve their entire sentence. Celebrities get favorable treatment, too — anyone ever heard of Jussie Smollett?
M.L. Chin, Lincoln Park
Waiting for Blago to say “sorry”
Now that Rod Blagojevich’s sentence has been commuted, how long will we have to wait before he apologizes for his acts of corruption, especially his egregious attempt at extortion. Let’s hope it doesn’t take 14 years.
Christine Craven, Evergreen Park
