It is a very controversial decision. President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Illinois-based Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday sentenced to 14 years in prison for trying to sell the senator's seat left vacant by Barack Obama.
This decision, accompanied by a dozen other commutations and graces, feeds speculation on the will of the republican billionaire to use this sovereign right in favor of some of his loved ones who are imprisoned or about to be. All eyes are on Washington in the case of Roger Stone, who advised Donald Trump before and during his presidential campaign, and was found guilty of lying to Congress and defrauding a witness in the investigation of the interference Russian in the 2016 American election.
"A fucking golden opportunity"
The commutation means that Rod Blagojevich can be released from prison, but that his conviction is not erased. "He spent eight years in prison, that's a long time," said Donald Trump in an exchange with journalists before flying to Las Vegas. "I don't know him very well, I met him once or twice (...) He seemed to be someone very good," he added, referring to the former governor, who had participated in 2010 in his reality show The Apprentice .
After his election to the White House in 2008, Barack Obama had resigned from the Senate. However, in case of vacancy, it is the governor of the state concerned to appoint a new senator until the next senatorial election. Rod Blagojevich, who then occupied this position, had tried to monetize this seat by claiming in exchange for positions that were highly placed or very well paid for him and his wife. He was notably confused by FBI tapes in which he welcomed the “damn golden opportunity” that represented the election of Obama.
Trump has "not thought about" a pardon for his loved ones
Asked about his willingness to grant the right of pardon to some of his relatives, Donald Trump remained elusive. Could Roger Stone be on the next list? "I haven't thought about it," he replied. "I think he was treated very unfairly," he added, however. "I think General (Michael) Flynn was treated very unfairly," he added later, referring to his former national security adviser, who pleaded guilty in late 2017 to lying to FBI, before finally reversing.
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