CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Two weeks after he appeared to win re-election, an Illinois Appellate Court panel has ruled that the mayor of Markham has to go.
Roger Agpawa was convicted of mail fraud in 1999. And the appeals court decision overturns a lower court ruling and says he is not eligible to hold public office.
“Regardless to this, this cloud today, we'll get we'll get through it,” Agpawa told CBS 2.
CBS 2’s Jermont Terry countered, asking the Markham mayor, “The court has said very clearly that you are ineligible to hold any elected office. Why not step aside today?”
To which Agpawa replied, “Well, because we still have the right to appeal that process.”
Agpawa received a pardon from then Gov. Bruce Rauner after winning office in 2017.
But the appeals court notes Rauner overstepped his authority because his pardon power does not extend to a federal conviction.
“I believe the court got it wrong,” Agpawa said.
For now, he's not leaving.
“Well, we have to do whatever the law is. I'm not gonna break the law,” he continued.
Agpawa is attempting to get a presidential pardon.
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