Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement in response to the sentencing of former Governor Rod Blagojevich to prison for 14 years.

"This is the second consecutive governor from Illinois to be sent to a federal penitentiary, a stark reminder that public office should never be used for personal gain," said Hultgren. "I had the responsibility of voting to impeach former Governor Blagojevich when I served in the Illinois Senate and I said then that it is right and proper for the citizens in Illinois to be sick and tired of their elected officials being involved in pay-to-play, patterns of abuse of power, and cultures of corruption.

"I knew then, just as I do now, that we will never realize the true cost of political corruption and the financial repercussions of former Governor Blagojevich's abuses of power will be felt throughout this state for generations. We must continue to root out corruption and wrongdoing in government at all levels so we can restore the respect to the citizens that they so rightly deserve."