Blagojevich gets 14 years in prison

[nonobaddog]

I don't see a question there.

...but if the questions is "why don't they release the reports", while that is, indeed, an interesting question. I'm betting the answer is downright boring.

Why would they fight the release if the reason is boring? Maybe just out of habit? Public bad, secrets good?

 

[halfmileharry]

Well, one question would be why the Trump DOJ is withholding something potentially damaging to Obama/Dems.

Granted, the overwhelming likelihood is that it is a nothingburger. But, if that's the case, why not release it?

Election timing. Strike when the iron is hot.

 

[T.Lex]

Election timing. Strike when the iron is hot.

Which gets back to the Blago commutation. Trump's election included a previously-untried coalition of Republican base and rust-belt Democrats. The Republican base will find the recent exercise of executive clemency/pardon distasteful but not rebellion-worthy. But, there will now be some prominent Dems who will be ambassadors for Trump, or used as such.

He's trying for the same demographics that won last time.

And it'll probably work.

 

[HoughMade]

...Maybe just out of habit? Public bad, secrets good?

Something like this.

In other words, policy.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

As an Illinois escapee I found Blago . . . less than optimal. Time served is long enough for what he did.

 

[Kutnupe14]

As an Illinois escapee I found Blago . . . less than optimal. Time served is long enough for what he did.

I disagree.
His statement after his release:

“I wanna say again to the people of Illinois who twice elected me governor: I didn’t let you down. I would have let you down if I gave in to this, but resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.”

Doesn't seem he's all that remorseful.

 

[HoughMade]

I disagree.
His statement after his release:


Doesn't seem he's all that remorseful.

What does remorse have to do with 8 years being an appropriate sentence for what he did?

 

[Kutnupe14]

What does remorse have to do with 8 years being an appropriate sentence for what he did?

Well, I think it was the appropriate sentence. Typically, such reprieves given for people that understand the seriousness of their crimes, and who also exhibit remorse. Blago has not exhibited either, so to me, he most certainly shouldn't have ever been let out.
And yes, I hold the same opinion of Bradley Manning. He should still be in prison too.

 

[BugI02]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opin...-rivera-bombings-clemency-20170119-story.html
The Obama pardon you should be mad about: Oscar Lopez Rivera

What was Obama thinking, however, when he ordered the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera? During the 1970s, Lopez Rivera headed a Chicago-based cell of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), which waged a futile but violent struggle to win Puerto Rican independence.
The FALN claimed responsibility for more than 120 bombings between 1974 and 1983 in a wave of senseless destruction that killed six and injured dozens. In 1981, a federal court in Chicago sentenced Lopez Rivera, then 37, to 55 years for seditious conspiracy, armed robbery, interstate transportation of firearms and conspiracy to transport explosives with intent to destroy government property.
Notably, the seditious-conspiracy charge was not some "thought crime," as Lopez Rivera's lawyer has said: The indictment listed 28 Chicago-area bombings, some of which caused injuries, as "overt acts" in support of the conspiracy.
FBI agents discovered dynamite, detonators and firearms at two residences occupied by Lopez Rivera. At trial, a cooperating witness from the FALN testified that Lopez Rivera personally trained him in bomb-making.
So Lopez Rivera is neither a low-level offender nor a nonviolent one. Nor, crucially, is he repentant.
He defiantly challenged the legitimacy of the court that tried him. Shortly after entering federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan., he and FALN members on the outside hatched an escape plan; the FBI foiled it by arresting Lopez Rivera's would-be helpers, who were armed with guns and explosives. A conviction for that escape attempt added 15 years to his sentence.
In 1999, Lopez Rivera was one of 16 imprisoned Puerto Rican terrorists to whom then-President Bill Clinton offered executive clemency.
He refused, reportedly because Clinton's offer did not include one of the FALN members who had tried to break him out of Leavenworth.
In addition, Clinton required the Puerto Ricans to renounce violence as a condition of receiving clemency.
Obama's offer this week came with no such requirement — in puzzling contrast not only to Clinton's policy in 1999, but also to White House statements that Chelsea Manning deserved clemency because she accepted responsibility and showed remorse.

What does remorse have to do with it?

 

[Ingomike]

Well, one question would be why the Trump DOJ is withholding something potentially damaging to Obama/Dems.

Granted, the overwhelming likelihood is that it is a nothingburger. But, if that's the case, why not release it?

The very assumption that there even is such a thing as "Trump DOJ" is a misnomer.

Evidenced by the fact that there are likely reams of information I'm sure Trump would like released to the public about previous administration activities...

 

[HoughMade]

So we're saying that Presidents have exercised their Constitutional power to commute (or pardon) in ways that people disagree with?

So when these very public things happen, we find out information about whatever president it was, and we we can use that to inform our votes.

Outrage? Anger? meh....

 

[T.Lex]

The very assumption that there even is such a thing as "Trump DOJ" is a misnomer.

Apparently Trump disagrees with you.

 

[Ingomike]

Apparently Trump disagrees with you.

You mean the guy frustrated that the DOJ you call his will not procecute those deep staters known to have committed perjury?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

You mean the guy frustrated that the DOJ you call his will not procecute those deep staters known to have committed perjury?

Well, they didn't mean to commit perjury. Or keep and transmit classified information on their personal servers/email accounts.

 

[nonobaddog]

What does remorse have to do with 8 years being an appropriate sentence for what he did?

I thought remorse was part of the aspects that are looked at during legal proceedings. A lack of remorse can indicate defiance of law and possibly mental instability, like manson. I have heard of judges using a lack of remorse as justification for longer sentences. It can also be used as indicator of potential rehabilitation such as when considering parole. Isn't any of this true?

 

[jamil]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opin...-rivera-bombings-clemency-20170119-story.html
The Obama pardon you should be mad about: Oscar Lopez Rivera



What does remorse have to do with it?

The Obama pardon I should be mad about? What has that to do with Trump letting Blago out?

 

[Kutnupe14]

You mean the guy frustrated that the DOJ you call his will not procecute those deep staters known to have committed perjury?

Why would he be frustrated? He’s the “top law enforcement official,” and can do whatever he wants.

 

[Denny347]

 

[Butch627]

From the beginning the entire Blago thing was a mess. The fact that they pulled the plug on the investigation of his selling the senate seat and arrested him when much evidence leans towards Obama being around the next bend stunk. Patrick Fitzgearlds press conference after Blagos arrest was a joke. Blagos wife was up to her neck in corruption as deep as was Blago and I believe she should have been prosecuted for her crap which would have led to more investigations. He tried to subvert the entire legal system in his public statements and defense. I thought he should have served every day of his sentence and this is the most disappointing thing Trump has done in my opinion besides his ill advised tweets. I expect Blago to get a radio or tv show in the not too distant future.

 

[Kutnupe14]

From the beginning the entire Blago thing was a mess. The fact that they pulled the plug on the investigation of his selling the senate seat and arrested him when much evidence leans towards Obama being around the next bend stunk. Patrick Fitzgearlds press conference after Blagos arrest was a joke. Blagos wife was up to her neck in corruption as deep as was Blago and I believe she should have been prosecuted for her crap which would have led to more investigations. He tried to subvert the entire legal system in his public statements and defense. I thought he should have served every day of his sentence and this is the most disappointing thing Trump has done in my opinion besides his ill advised tweets. I expect Blago to get a radio or tv show in the not too distant future.

“Much evidence” leaned toward Obama? Well, Blago obviously didn’t know that, because it woulda seem odd that he would sit and rot while having knowledge of that evidence. My question is, are you assuming there was much evidence, or do you have a source for that accusation?