CHICAGO — Among those writing letters in support of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's efforts to reduce his prison sentence for corruption is U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill,) who calls him "a friend" and "a good man."
"I take very seriously the role of public servant and elected official, and it's true that Rod did not always measure up, but he did much good for the many people in our state," she wrote on Blagojevich's behalf.
The former governor "made serious mistakes and he and his family have already paid a heavy price for them," she said. "It is my great hope that the court takes this into consideration and allows [Blagojevich] to be reunited with his family at the earliest time possible."
Schakowsky recalled her long friendship with Blagojevich, serving with him in the state Legislature from 1992 to 1996 and then later in Congress. "I found Rod to be a good man whose heart was in the right place — and despite his obvious mistakes — I still do."
She praised him for "his many progressive policies" including death penalty reform, health care for children, education funding "and, yes, ethics reform."
She described Blagojevich's family as suffering, with the former governor missing graduations, birthdays and anniversaries. In prison in Colorado, Blagojevich "a person with a naturally positive demeanor," has been "a model prisoner, teaching and helping and probably entertaining the other inmates," she wrote.
Blagojevich will be re-sentenced August 9 after an appeals court threw out some of the charges against him. Federal prosecutors won convictions in 18 counts against the former governor in 2011, saying that he had attempted to trade an open U.S. Senate seat for favors including campaign money or a job in Washington. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The U.S. Attorney's office is arguing for "a very significant sentence … to deter current and future public officials from engaging in similar criminal activity.”
Schakowsky's 9th Congressional district includes Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown Edison Park and parts of Lakeview and Norwood Park as well as a number of northern suburbs.
Schakowsky's letter and other letters of support, including some from his fellow inmates at a federal prison near Littleton, Colorado, are posted on the Tribune web site here.
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