State senator reacts to Blagojevich’s release

Peoria, IL, USA 1470 & 100.3 WMBD

Feb 19, 2020 | 9:49 AM

Illinois Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, listens to lawmakers while on the Senate floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Illinois Senate convenes to address a compromise spending bill approved by the House last week in the midst of an overall budget impasse between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic leaders. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

PEORIA, Ill. — State Senator Dave Koehler, who represents Illinois’ 46th District, wasn’t surprised by the news of President Trump commuting the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Koehler was one of 59 state legislators that voted unanimously to remove Blagojevich from office.

“If he at any point would have said, ‘I’m sorry to the people of Illinois,’ I might have a little more sympathy. But, he has been defiant and arrogant in his behavior ever since then,” Koehler said.

Koehler told WMBD’s Greg and Dan, following release from prison, Blagojevich is barred from running for office in Illinois.

“We voted on two things. One was to remove him from office immediately. The other was to not allow him to run for office in Illinois ever again,” Koehler said.

Blagojevich served just over eight years of a 14-year sentence on corruption charges which included trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat after Obama was elected President of the United States.