Good Essay On Public Corruption: Responses And Analysis

(Professor/Instructor)

Corruption by public officials is a common news item in the media. However, when the official or officials are in the highest echelons in government and are the culprits in the malfeasance, it is then when the issue takes on a more blatant and public outcry generating nature. Government and specifically government officials are sworn into office on the premise that these will work to for the welfare of the general public. It is in this light that when there are reports, and unfortunately convictions, of government officials that the general public are not left with much choice but lose a little of the trust that is essential in the smooth running of the government.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is mounting an appeal to try and reverse his conviction. Blagojevich is presently serving a 14 year sentence, one of the longest and harshest meted out on public officials for corruption. Prosecutors successfully tried Blagojevich on a number of charges, inclusive of an attempt for him to enrich himself by “selling” then Illinois Senator US Senate seat. However, even Blagojevich’s defense team admit that overturning the conviction, and these are more hopeful in that the appeals court will be more lenient and reduce the present sentence (Associated Press, 2013, p. 1).
Though there are possibilities that the former Governor will be successful in his appeal either at overturning or reducing his sentence, the impact of this possibility will have serious effects on the conduct of governance in the United States. Crooked public officials will be able to use the successful appeal of Blagojevich and try to skirt their full culpability to the law and may even “get away with it.”

References

Associated Press (2013). “Rod Blagojevich tries last-ditch corruption case appeal.”
Retrieved 12 January 2015 from
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/rod-blagojevich-last-ditch-corruption-case-appeal