SPRINGFIELD – Disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich could receive a commutation from President Trump according to reports on Thursday. State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement:

“In 2009, the Illinois Senate, in a unanimous vote of 59 to 0, voted to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. I was one of those 59 Senators. After I heard testimony from an FBI source about his shakedown of a children’s hospital for a political donation before he would sign an important piece of legislation, it was pretty clear that we had a corrupt governor.

“He was ultimately convicted of numerous crimes and sent to prison. Had he ever come clean with the public about what he had done in a humble and sincere way, I could feel sorry for him. But to this day his arrogance pervades.

“President Trump's consideration of giving him a commutation confirms for me that the common bonds between the pair are arrogance and ego-centricity. “