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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been
3 indicted on 16 racketeering, fraud, and extortion charges; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Authorities have accused him of embarking on a
5 "wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of
6 honest government"; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The charges against him include seeking the sale
8 of President Barack Obama's former United States Senate seat to
9 the highest bidder; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The severity of the charges against Rod
11 Blagojevich led the Illinois General Assembly to impeach him
12 and remove him from the Governor's Office; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate vote to remove him from office
14 was unanimous; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The former Governor's poor fiscal management of
16 the State of Illinois has led to record-breaking budget
17 deficits and debt; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Through his reckless and selfish actions, Rod
19 Blagojevich damaged the reputation of Illinois and its

 

 

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1 government; and
 
2     WHEREAS, The name "Rod Blagojevich" will forever be
3 associated with "play-to-pay" corruption scandals; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Illinois State government has tried to turn the
5 page on the Blagojevich years through his removal from office
6 and the pursuit of enhanced ethics laws; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The NBC network is considering allowing Rod
8 Blagojevich to appear on "The Celebrity Apprentice" television
9 program, hosted by Donald Trump; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Prosecutors have expressed concern that Rod
11 Blagojevich's appearance on the show will prejudice the
12 potential jury pool for his upcoming trial; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois are entitled
14 to see justice be done; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Mr. Blagojevich deserves to receive a free and
16 fair trial, without a tainted jury pool; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
18 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that lawmakers appeal to the
19 NBC television network and "The Celebrity Apprentice" host

 

 

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1 Donald Trump to reject the use of Rod Blagojevich as a
2 contestant on that program.