Bernie Kerik YouTube video explaining why he wrote to President Trump to pardon Blagojevich, to my understanding Trump commuted his sentence.
So the real question is why did Obama want him in jail, what did he know, and is this going to lead to more revelations about Obama? Kerick explains Blago got nothing, there was no gain, no bribe etc. There’s a bigger story here. I hope Blago has protection!
Exclusive: Fmr NYC Commissioner Kerik on Why Pres Trump Should Pardon Rod Blagojevich
I think that President Trump that’s leading the charge on criminal justice reform is pointing the political hit jobs and inequities of the criminal justice system that was severely destroyed by Presidebt Clinton’s three strike law, you know the one where HRC talked about super predators. The ironic thing is HRC, BC, OB and many others are the real super predators
President Trump was in a merciful mood Tuesday before embarking on a four-day trip to the West Coast, commuting or pardoning 11 people in one fell swoop, including former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik, disgraced one-time Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the architect of the San Francisco 49ers dynasty that won five Super Bowl championships Eddie DeBartolo Jr.
—The White House announced the pardon for DeBartolo, the former owner of the 49ers who was convicted in 1998 in a gambling fraud case, earlier in the day and Trump released the names of the others as he talked to reporters before departing Joint Base Andrews on his way to California.
—Among those pardoned was financier Michael Milken, the former junk bond king who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $600 million in 1990 for his part in an insider trading scheme on Wall Street.
—Kerik, who led the NYPD during the Sept. 11 terror attacks, said there were no words “to express my appreciation and gratitude to President Trump.”
—“With the exception of the birth of my children, today is one of the greatest days in my life – being made a full and whole American citizen again,” he said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.
—“Going to prison is like dying with your eyes open. Its aftermath of collateral consequences and the permanent loss of many of your civil and constitutional rights are personally devastating. This pardon restores those rights, for which I will be eternally grateful.”
—Trump said Kerik “had many recommendations from a lot of good people.”
—Along with Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who is Trump’s private attorney, others backing Kerik’s pardon included GOP Rep. Pete King and Fox News personalities Judge Andrew Napolitano and Geraldo Rivera.
—Kerik, 64, pleaded guilty in November 2009 to tax fraud and lying to White House officials who were vetting him after President George W. Bush nominated him to be Homeland Security secretary.
—He was released from prison in May 2013 after serving three years of a four-year sentence.
—Blagojevich, a Democrat, was convicted of 17 charges of public corruption in 2011 involving handing out political favors in exchange for financial benefits, including trying to solicit campaign money in return for an appointment to Obama’s seat.
—“So he’ll be able to go back home with his family after serving eight years in jail,” Trump told reporters. “That was a tremendously powerful, ridiculous sentence, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others.”
—Trump, who fired Blagojevich, 63, during an April 2010 episode of his NBC reality show “Celebrity Apprentice,” said the former governor had been subjected to a “ridiculous sentence” that didn’t fit his crimes.
—Blagojevich, who served from 2003 to 2009, was sentenced to 14 years in March 2012 and was expected to be released from the federal lockup in Colorado in 2024 because of good behavior.
—DeBartolo, 73, was sentenced to two years probation and received a $1 million fine in 1998 after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to report a felony after he paid $400,000 to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.
—Edwards served about eight years in prison after his conviction.
—The 49ers won the Super Bowl five times during the 23 years DeBartolo owned the NFL franchise
Jerry Rice, the Hall-of-Fame receiver who played with the 49ers from 1985 to 2000, told reporters at the White House that “I take my hat off to Donald Trump for what he did
—He said the president told him it was all about DeBartolo’s accomplishments.
—Because of DeBartolo, Rice said he got to play the “greatest game ever” – NFL football.
—“Eddie was like that 12th man that was on that football field. You know that this guy, he wanted us to win. And I think he’s the main reason why we won so many Super Bowls,” Rice said. “So today is a great day for him. I’m glad to be here and be a part of that. And, you know, it’s just something I’ll never forget.”
—Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of seven others on Tuesday.
https://nypost.com/2020/02/18/trump-commutes-sentence-of-rod-blagojevich-pardons-bernie-kerik/