On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, meaning he’s stuck in prison for another seven years or so unless U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel decides to shorten his sentence.
Zagel should do just that.
EDITORIAL
Blagojevich is a goof. Can we stipulate that? Guilty as charged, too. Trying to sell a vacant senate seat — maybe his worst offense — was dumb. But 14 years was always too stiff a sentence. Former Gov. George Ryan got 6½ years for much more serious bribery schemes.
Because an appellate court last summer threw out five of the 18 criminal counts on which Blagojevich was convicted — along with the original sentence — Zagel now must re-sentence him.
Here’s hoping Zagel sorts through the nuances of narcissistic, delusional and venal.
Blago was always more the first two than the third.
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