By Roger Kempa -
Illinois is generally acknowledged as one of the corrupt states in the nation. In recent history, four Illinois governors were convicted and sent to jail for a variety of crimes including mail fraud, conspiracy, perjury, racketeering, and corruption. Three were Democrats: Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, and Rod Blagojevich. One was Republican: George Ryan.
With the exception of the last governor convicted, prison sentences were in the order below: 3 yrs, 7 yrs, and 6.5 yrs, an average of 4.7 years. Time served was 0.5 yr, 1.5 yrs, and 5 yrs, an average of 2.3 years.
The last convicted governor was Rod Blagojevich. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison versus an average of 4.7 years for the prior three convicted governors. He served prison time of about 8 years, compared to 2.3 years for the prior three convicted governors.
- GOV Otto Kerner, Jr. (D) convicted on 17 counts of mail fraud, conspiracy, perjury, and related charges. The federal bribery counts were dismissed. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison in Chicago and fined $50,000; served only six months.
- GOV Dan Walker (D) Walker pleaded guilty to bank fraud and perjury for receiving improper loans from First American. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, and was released after serving a year and a half; served about 1.5 years.
- GOV/SEC OF STATE George Ryan (R) found guilty of fraud and racketeering charges for various acts that he committed in these two offices. He was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison. A year later, he is backed in his clemency appeal by Sen. Dick Durbin and Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Bush leaves office on January 20 without granting Ryan clemency; released from home confinement having served about 5 years.
- GOV Rod Blagojevich (D) found guilty of 18 counts of corruption, including attempting to sell or trade an appointment to fill Barack Obama's vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. After serving about eight years of his term, his sentence was commuted by President Trump.
Setting aside the personal feelings, past precedent clearly shows that the commutation of former Governor Blagojevich was reasonable. The past facts of both time sentenced/served support this conclusion.
