Similarity between Trump, Blagojevich
Trump's interest in the Blagojevich matter is unusual at this point in time. Trump does not seem to realize that his suggestion of commuting the sentence is out of place given his conduct related to Ukraine.
Some background. Recall that Blagojevich was originally convicted of attempting to sell the Obama Senate seat and other corrupt actions. The court of appeals threw out the counts related to attempting to sell the Senate seat. O
n resentencing, Judge Zegal resentenced Blagojevich to 14 years for his other corrupt acts. Those other corrupt acts involved the same type of fact pattern which formed the basis for the public corruption, wire fraud, etc., charges.
In each situation, the legislature included funding for grants to non-governmental entities in appropriation bills that were signed into law by Blagojevich. Blagojevich refused to disburse the appropriated funds until the recipients agreed to do something for his personal benefit.
In one situation, the evidence included a wire that was worn by the president of a hospital in Downers Grove that was to receive a large grant from the state. Blagojevich asked for a campaign contribution before he would release the grant. The other situation involved the same conduct related to funds for race tracks.
When you look at the purported transcript and the released testimony, including the revision of the testimony by the EU ambassador, the conduct of the President is exactly the same conduct that earned Blagojevich 14 years in a Colorado prison.
Trump held up the disbursal of a legally authorized appropriation until the president of the Ukraine did something to help Trump. If Trump honestly believes that his conduct is legal, then Trump should not commute the Blagojevich sentence, but rather Trump should grant Blagojevich full clemency.
For those who believe that Trump's conduct is legal, they should not object if some future executive sends them a notice that their Social Security checks will be stopped if they don't sign a letter endorsing the executive's reelection.
If Trump's corrupt conduct isn't dealt with, then what limit is there on presidential power?
Leonard F. Perkins
Arlington Heights