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CHICAGO — In a scathing and stinging determination – that was as a lot poetry because it was mockery – a federal decide denied former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s effort to overturn his ineligibility to carry workplace.
“Greater than a decade in the past, Governor Rod Blagojevich left the Dirksen Federal Constructing in shame,” Choose Steve Seeger wrote about Blagojevich’s 2009 public corruption conviction. “At that time, Blagojevich’s profession got here to an in depth. The music stopped, the curtain fell, and he exited stage left. He’s again;” Choose Seeger declared within the first paragraphs of his ten web page determination.
Greater than a decade after he was convicted – and after spending eight years in jail – Blagojevich went again to the courthouse the place he was convicted to say the Illinois legislature was incorrect to ban him from operating for workplace sooner or later. The ban was a results of his impeachment. Nevertheless, the decide’s new order stated the judiciary has “no energy to unimpeach, unconvict and unremove a public official.”
Former President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s jail sentence and he was launched in 2019. Since then, Illinois’ disgraced democratic governor has bought movies on Cameo and professed a kinship with Trump claiming they had been each victims of a “witch hunt.”
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The decide appeared to make enjoyable of the previous governor’s efforts to stay within the public highlight.
“Blagojevich didn’t have a swish exit from public life. It was disgraceful,” Seeger wrote. “And by the seems of issues, it wasn’t even an exit. As a result of Blagojevich needs again within the recreation, and again on heart stage, microphone in hand.”
Seeger referenced this 2021 WGN News report on Blagojevich’s makes an attempt to clear the way in which for a comeback.
“I’ll or might not run for public workplace once more, I don’t have any specific plans to do it I don’t have any plans to do it. The very considered doing all that once more makes me groan,” Blagojevich stated outdoors the courthouse in 2021 after submitting his criticism.
Related: ‘Madigan engineered this’: Blagojevich sues for ability to run for office again
Seeger’s denial within the case referenced the circus-like ambiance that Blagojevich has introduced with him to the courthouse through the years. The decide’s opinion even managed to work-in a Dr. Seuss reference. “The time has come. The time has come. The time is now. Simply go. Go. GO! I don’t care how. You may go by foot. You may go by cow… will you please go now!” the decide quoted from the kids’s e-book.
Blagojevich’s spokesperson responded to the denial with a put up on X: “The federal decide’s ruling comes as no shock,” Mark Vargas assertion on behalf of Blagojevich learn. “The legislation banning Rod Blagojevich from operating for workplace in Illinois is unconstitutional. The folks ought to have the ability to determine who they need or don’t need to characterize them – not federal judges or institution politicians who’re afraid of governors who battle for the folks.”
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Maybe anticipating Blagojevich wouldn’t cede the difficulty, Seeger closed his opinion by writing: “The case began with a microphone, nevertheless it ends with a whimper. Typically instances within the federal courthouse entice publicity. However the courthouse is not any place for a publicity stunt,” the decide wrote earlier than closing with three easy sentences: “He needs again. However he’s already gone. Case dismissed.”
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