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Dupage Policy Journal

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Roskam slams potential plans to pardon Blagojevich

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Although President Donald Trump publicly toyed with the idea of pardoning two former contestants of his TV show “The Apprentice," U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) has objected to commuting the prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

In a recent press release, Roskam argued for the nobility of public office, claiming that public officials must bear the standard of ethical behavior.

“As public servants, we are rightfully held to a higher standard,” he said. “In Ilinois, many of our elected officials have failed to do so in the past, and few—like former Gov. Rod Blagojevich—have been held accountable for their actions.”


U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)

He was referring to the former governor’s 2012 conviction on charges that he tried to sell the former U.S. Senate seat of President-elect Barak Obama, according to the Chicago Tribune. Although five of the charges were later vacated on appeal, it’s likely Blagojevich will remain behind bars for much of his original 14-year sentence.

“Commuting the sentence of a corrupt politician, particularly from Illinois, sends a dangerous message that this type of behavior is acceptable,” Roskam added. “It is not acceptable. Today, my Illinois colleagues and I are urging the president not to set this harmful precedent and deny the former governor’s petition for commutation.”

Roskam has represented Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District since 2007.

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