Who knew!
Sneed has learned Chicago Fraternal Order of Police union president Kevin Graham wrote a letter to President Donald Trump weeks ago requesting the commutation of former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s prison sentence.
“I believe everybody should be treated fairly in the city and prosecutors can go into overdrive with excessive sentencing, and I felt Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence was excessive,“ Graham told Sneed.
While he wouldn’t reveal his past voting record, he insisted he had never met Blagojevich.
“I don’t know him but that shouldn’t stop anyone from stating his truth on excessive punishment,” he said.
The five-paragraph letter was written on Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge #7 letterhead and co-authored by Martin Preib, the FOP’s second in command who is running against Graham in the next union election.
“We just believed a 14-year sentence was over the top ... compared to what goes on in Cook County where people don’t get 14 years for murder!” Graham said.
The letter was sent Jan. 24, which now appears to be prescient considering Trump’s decision to commute Rod’s sentence Tuesday. Asked why they penned the request just a few weeks ago, Graham said: “I just felt this was the right time to send the letter.”
The letter states: “While Mr. Blagojevich’s conviction for corruption is a serious crime, his punishment has been, in our opinion, excessive.
“Corruption in the governor’s office is nothing new, but overwhelming evidence against other governors for similar wrongdoing has not met with anything close to the punishment meted out to Mr. Blagojevich.”
The letter cited former Republican Gov. George Ryan’s felony convictions (for which he was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison) ... as well as “evidence of misconduct” by Ryan and former Gov. Pat Quinn “in the release of convicted killers on the claim of wrongful conviction.”
• Backshot: Graham was the ONLY city official greeting President Trump on his first official POTUS visit to the city in October to attend a private fundraiser and an international law enforcement conclave at McCormick Place, where he got a personal shout out from Trump.
• Upshot: Graham was subsequently invited to the White House a few weeks later for a private confab with Trump and eight other police union presidents.
“That’s when I thanked the president for supporting the police nationwide and citing Chicago in particular,” said Graham. “And we also discussed prosecutors and unfair sentences!”
• The letter praised Trump for the sign “of your courage to do what is right in supporting law and order.” It was also sent with a “spirit of gratitude” thanking the president and his Justice Department for “opposing the (police) consent decree foisted on our members by local officials.” The consent decree process required a number of police reforms the union opposed.
• Sure shot? Does it go without saying who Graham plans to vote for in November? “I am inclined to support President Trump in the next election ... although it’s important to note our national association makes our official endorsement for president,” Graham added.
Any bets?
