CHICAGO (AP) — Nineteen Illinois Democrats have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal by imprisoned ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to help clarify the line between legal and illegal political fundraising.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports Wednesday that they argued in a filing this week with the high court that there’s legal confusion about when fundraising becomes extortion or bribery.
Among those making the request are current U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierrez, former U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski and former state Sen. Emil Jones.
The court already refused in 2016 to hear Blagojevich’s appeal of his corruption convictions, including for trying to trade an appointment to Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash.
His attorney filed another request last month. Blagojevich has served more than five years of a 14-year prison term.
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