• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Opinion: An Objective look at the Blagojevich Commutation

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
February 24, 2020
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
2
26
SHARES
437
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

87279697_177353550235490_1619571694182072320_nBy Roger Kempa –

You might also like

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

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.

FORMER CONVICTED ILLINOIS 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.

It is noteworthy that U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) vociferously condemned the commutation of former Governor Blagojevich. Yet ironically; it was okay for Senator Durbin to back the clemency appeal for former Governor George Ryan, found guilty of fraud and racketeering charges for various acts.
 
Roger Kempa is from Plainfield Illinois 
 
Photo by Mark Weyermuller 

Related

Share10Tweet7
Previous Post

Daleiden, Merritt plead not guilty to 9 felony counts in Planned Parenthood baby body parts case

Next Post

Opinion: Should Peggy Hubbard be the ILGOP’s 2020 candidate to challenge Dick Durbin?

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

by Illinois Review
June 30, 2025
0
JB Pritzker Receives 2% in Presidential Poll, Ranks Lowest in Minority Support Among Democrats

By Illinois ReviewIn one of the first nationwide hypothetical polls for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, Illinois Governor and billionaire JB Pritzker ranks at the bottom, receiving the...

Read moreDetails

Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

by Thomas Mccullagh
June 26, 2025
0
Trump’s Jobs Boom Skips Illinois—Thanks to Pritzker’s Tax Hikes

Illinois is missing out on Trump’s U.S. manufacturing boom. While other states welcome new factories, Pritzker’s tax hikes and regulations keep businesses out—and force longtime employers to leave.

Read moreDetails

Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

by Janelle Powell
June 21, 2025
0
Opinion: We’ll Save You If We See You Burning

By Janelle Powell, Opinion ContributorIn a dazzling display of bureaucratic brilliance, the City of Chicago has rolled out a new policy for the Chicago Fire Department that essentially...

Read moreDetails

Caught Off Guard: Pritzker Left Speechless on Women’s Restroom Question Amid Sanctuary City Testimony

by Illinois Review
June 12, 2025
0
Caught Off Guard: Pritzker Left Speechless on Women’s Restroom Question Amid Sanctuary City Testimony

By Illinois ReviewIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker testified Wednesday before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alongside fellow sanctuary city governors – occasionally appearing visibly stunned and...

Read moreDetails

OPINION: Judicial Watch Petitions U.S. Supreme Court Over Illinois Ballot Counting — A Possible Turning Point for Election Integrity

by Janelle Powell
June 6, 2025
0
OPINION: Judicial Watch Petitions U.S. Supreme Court Over Illinois Ballot Counting — A Possible Turning Point for Election Integrity

By Janelle Powell, Opinion ContributorIn what could be a landmark moment for restoring election integrity in Illinois, Judicial Watch has officially petitioned the United States Supreme Court to...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Opinion: Should Peggy Hubbard be the ILGOP's 2020 candidate to challenge Dick Durbin?

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?