Blagojevich asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear his appeal again

CHICAGO -- Imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has again asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider tossing his convictions on corruption charges, arguing the nation’s highest court could settle lingering disagreements in lower courts over what constitutes illegal political fundraising by taking up his case.

A 39-page filing by the Democrat’s lawyers, posted by the high court on Friday, comes after multiple failed bids by the 60-year-old married father to have his convictions overturned or to reduce his 14-year prison term, which is the longest sentence imposed on an Illinois politician for corruption.

Blurry lines between legal and illegal fundraising, the filing contends, leaves politicians vulnerable.

“It is all too easy to cast entirely lawful interactions as having an illegal subtext, particularly when jurors may find the reality of campaign fundraising distasteful or the defendant is politically unpopular,” the filing, written by Chicago attorney Leonard Goodman, says.

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