Picture by Seth Perlman. (c) 2007 Associated Press.by Mugambi Nthiga
Another United States governor could soon be subjected to public scrutiny. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Illinois’ Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration, in what is considered to be a surprising move, has halted the opening of books to the press, that contain records of dozens of pardons that the governor has granted since he took office in 2003.
The executive clemency files, which were previously accessible to the press, contain such records as police reports, letters of recommendation and court records of past felonies, now pardoned by Blagojevich.
After two of the governor’s past pardons had raised criticisms, his administration rejected a FOIA request from The Chicago Sun-Times to access the records. “Release of the information ... would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” wrote the Prisoner Review Board's general counsel, Kenneth Tupy. The party whose privacy would be compromised has remained unnamed. The paper is now appealing the rejection.
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