Former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich sent out a simple but plaintive tweet Wednesday: “Will someone please explain to me why my husband is still in jail?”
Attached was a link to Wednesday's decision by federal prosecutors to forego further charges against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez.
Last week, a federal judge threw out seven of the 18 charges against Menendez, relating to his acceptance of campaign contributions from a Florida eye doctor who was a longtime friend.
Menendez had been accused of accepting trips, hotel stays and campaign money from Dr. Salomen Melgen in exchange for assistance with a billing dispute with the Department of Health and Human Services, and visa issues with Melgen’s girlfriends.
On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced it would not retry Menendez on the disputed charges. The New Jersey senator insisted he and the doctor were longtime friends, and the gifts had nothing to do with his performance in office.
Blagojevich was convicted of a variety of corruption charges, none of which involved the acceptance of any actual funds. He and his attorneys have long contended that the government never demonstrated a tangible quid pro quo for any official acts.
Blagojevich has now served over five years, of a 14 year sentence.
