SCOTUS Rejects Blagojevich Appeal On Corruption Convictions For Second Time
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has for the second time rejected an appeal by imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich of his convictions on corruption charges.
The justices did not comment Monday in letting stand the convictions and 14-year prison term that Blagojevich is serving. He's scheduled to be released in 2024.
Blagojevich's lawyers had wanted the high court to take up his case to make clear what constitutes illegal political fundraising. They argued that politicians are vulnerable to prosecution because the line between what's allowed and what's illegal is blurry.
His convictions included trying to extort a children's hospital for contributions and seeking to trade an appointment to the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated when he was elected president for campaign cash.
The court rejected an earlier appeal in 2016.