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Blagojevich Wants Campaign Funds to Pay Lawyer

Oftencold

Oftencold

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois plans to ask that he be permitted to use campaign funds to defend himself against federal corruption charges, a lawyer who represents the head of the embattled governor’s campaign fund said Thursday.
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The decision to try to use campaign funds arose on Thursday after the state attorney general rejected a request by the governor to use state funds to pay for his impeachment defense.
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ARTICLE

You have to wonder haw it feels to have voted for this guy, in two elections I believe, and to now have to pay for his defense.

Interestingly, a number of commentators now seem to think that he will not be charged with a major crime.
 
Kernel Sanders said:
Is that legal? How can that possibly be legal?
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Honestly, I expect it's because the people who framed the laws never in their most awful nightmares pictured a guy like this in office. It probably is impracticable to make laws to cover all such eventualities.
 
I hope it's not allowed to use campaign money for his defense.
 
the article said:
“There’s a real question about how he will be able to pay for his defense,” Mr. Ettinger said.
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Why, he could just sell Obama's senate sea... oh wait... nevermind.
 
Oftencold said:
ARTICLE

You have to wonder haw it feels to have voted for this guy, in two elections I believe, and to now have to pay for his defense.

Interestingly, a number of commentators now seem to think that he will not be charged with a major crime.
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Our senator Vitter wanted $160 thousand in attorneys fees to be paid for by his campaign donations. This is up to the federal election commission on an individual basis. The republicans on the panel voted he could. The democrats voted he couldn't. There were 3 of each on the panel.

Oh, this was about the DC Madam case with the prostitutes.

I have never heard of any outcome.
 
I've met people like this guy before (though not any governors, mind you), and it's not just that they're completely sociopathic. One thing they absolutely all had in common is they saw themselves as victims of a cruel world out to extort them. Have there been any quotes by Blagojevich that's supported this?
 
Kernel Sanders said:
Is that legal? How can that possibly be legal?
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Unfortunately, it IS legal. Norm Coleman in Minnesota also used campaign funds to pay for a lawyer to defend him in his upcoming indictment. There should be a law!!
 
Someone please just shoot him.

Well I am being facetious there. But seriously, has this guy not learned a lesson from all this? Chicago politics...just when you think they've hit rock bottom, someone pulls out a shovel.
 
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Someone please just shoot him.
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Why not? These rotten politician bastards have been literally destroying our country and Constitution. They scoff at us citizens and our quaint notions of liberty and justice. I say it's time we injected some fear into these slimey, greasy, worthless sacks of sh*t. Death by firing squad anytime a politician is caught doing something like this.
 
"An Illinois legislative committee Thursday unanimously recommended impeaching embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich amid corruption allegations."


"The issue will now be taken up by the full Illinois state House of Representatives."

Full House Vote could come tomorrow.

Articles of impeachment were attached to the bill approved by the committee, detailing Hospital Kickbacks, the Tribune Editorial staff firings, etc.


Panel recommends impeaching Blagojevich - CNN.com


"The list includes Blagojevich expanding health care without legislative approval, spending state money on useless flu vaccines, refusing to release federal subpoenas and other government information to the public, widespread hiring abuses and pay-to-play activities in which big contributors often wound up with hefty state contracts.

It also restates the federal charges against Blagojevich, including the allegation that he sought to peddle the U.S. Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for a Cabinet post, an ambassadorship or a high-paying private job for himself or his wife.

Committee members noted that the governor refused to appear before them to rebut any of the allegations involving his conduct or the federal criminal charges."


House committee recommends impeachment - Chicago Breaking News


..
 
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Southern Man said:
Why shouldn't it be legal? He hasn't been convicted of anything.
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There's no way it should be legal for a person to use campaign contributions, ya know - money people donate to his political campaign, to defend himself from a criminal prosecution. It's no better than using campaign funds to buy a new car or two
 
Kernel Sanders said:
There's no way it should be legal for a person to use campaign contributions, ya know - money people donate to his political campaign, to defend himself from a criminal prosecution. It's no better than using campaign funds to buy a new car or two
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That's not a valid analogy at all. But, if the cars were used for campaign travel, then they would be considered a campaign expense.
 
Southern Man said:
That's not a valid analogy at all. But, if the cars were used for campaign travel, then they would be considered a campaign expense.
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How is his current criminal prosecution in any way related to his last election campaign, for which the funds were donated?
 
Southern Man said:
Well again, he hasn't been convicted of anything yet.
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How does that address my posts? If he's using funds for a prosecution, he obviously hasn't been convicted. I just don't think he should be able to use campaign funds as a criminal defense fund
 
Kernel Sanders said:
How does that address my posts? If he's using funds for a prosecution, he obviously hasn't been convicted. I just don't think he should be able to use campaign funds as a criminal defense fund
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I addressed that specifically, but you edited it out when you quoted me in #18. *shrug*
 
Southern Man said:
I addressed that specifically, but you edited it out when you quoted me in #18. *shrug*
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I edited it out because I though it was just a random hypothetical and my response was more targeted at the first bit. Are you actually saying that he should be able to use his campaign funds as a criminal defense fund because there's a chance that somebody could be framing him, which would make him unpopular, which would make it harder to get elected next time around?
 
Kernel Sanders said:
I edited it out because I though it was just a random hypothetical and my response was more targeted at the first bit. Are you actually saying that he should be able to use his campaign funds as a criminal defense fund because there's a chance that somebody could be framing him, which would make him unpopular, which would make it harder to get elected next time around?
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Exactly. Don't you think that is fairly common, especially in Chicago politics?
 
Southern Man said:
Exactly. Don't you think that is fairly common, especially in Chicago politics?
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Framing a fellow dem? Not really. Most of them around here are just corrupt bastards.



As a side note, I've met Blagoevich's Father-in-law, Dick Mel a few times. That guy is as corrupt as a septic tank. This is exactly the type of **** Mel gets into. I am positive of Bagoevich's guilt on this, but then again, I would have refuse jury duty because I've always been biased against Blago. I know innocent until proven guilty is the standard he should be held to, but I would not be able to perform on the jury due to my biases and belief in his guilt, even BEFORE this stuff came out, I was positive the guy was corrupt.
 
Tucker Case said:
Framing a fellow dem? Not really. Most of them around here are just corrupt bastards.



As a side note, I've met Blagoevich's Father-in-law, Dick Mel a few times. That guy is as corrupt as a septic tank. This is exactly the type of **** Mel gets into. I am positive of Bagoevich's guilt on this, but then again, I would have refuse jury duty because I've always been biased against Blago. I know innocent until proven guilty is the standard he should be held to, but I would not be able to perform on the jury due to my biases and belief in his guilt, even BEFORE this stuff came out, I was positive the guy was corrupt.
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I'm sure that he is corrupt, and a jerk and a bastard, and a whole string of expletives, but that doesn't mean a hill of beans if he isn't convicted of anything. And since he hasn't been convicted, as has been demonstrated, he has a duty to appoint a senator regardless of what Harry Reid says. He also has a duty to perform his administrative duties. And he has a right to defend himself in open court on charges that may be brought against him for political purposes and pay for that defense with campaign funds.
 
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