Two Reasons Why Blagojevich's 14-Year Prison Sentence Should be Reduced

Opinion by Reboot Illinois' Matt Dietrich

Tuesday’s Reboot Illinois Daily Tip-Off email contained a mention of the Chicago Sun-Times editorial headlined, “Time to rethink Blago’s prison time,” which advocated for reducing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence.

Blagojevich is due to be re-sentenced after a federal appeals court threw out five of his 18 convictions last summer and, on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal that all 18 convictions be vacated. The Sun-Times editorial prompted this response from a Daily Tip-Off subscriber:

“Apparently the editorial piece writer on former Gov Rod doesn’t understand what a deterrent is meant to do – stupid folks need stronger measures.”

That reader is not alone. The Chicago Tribune, in its editorial following the Supreme Court denial, hinted at advocating a longer sentence for the unrepentant Blagojevich:

(T)he 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago … noted that the evidence against Blagojevich was “overwhelming” and that “it is not possible to call (a sentence of) 168 months unlawfully high.” That leaves open the possibility that (Judge James) Zagel could increase the sentence if he thinks it’s appropriate.

Speaking as someone who had a fairly good seat throughout the grand spectacle of Blagojevich’s six-year reign of error over state government, here are my two thoughts on why his sentence should be reduced.

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