SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 3 (UPI) -- Illinois lawmakers passed a bill Friday that would bar convicted state officials from profiting from their crimes through book and movie deals.
Legal Newsline reported that the legislation passed the Illinois House 112-2. The bill is said to be in response to ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's indictment this week on federal corruption charges.
The bill, written by fellow Democrat Rep. Jack Franks, would allow the state attorney general to sue convicted state officials for money they made by selling their story for books, movies or for fees collected for broadcast appearances.
The bill says officials can profit from their stories so long as they were not convicted or have already completed their sentence.
The proposal now moves to the state Senate.
Blagojevich, 52, was ousted from office and indicted for, among other things, trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.
A 75-page indictment released Thursday charges him with 16 felony counts, including racketeering, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy and lying to federal agents.
The former Democratic governor has denied any wrongdoing. His book is due to be released in the fall, Legal Newsline reported.
