By AP/KWMU
Chicago, Ill. – Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has sent a Sunday to the Pentagon on behalf of St. Louis native Harry Schmidt.
Schmidt is the Illinois Air National Guard pilot who faces a court martial for accidentally bombing Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, killing four.
Blagojevich asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to ensure Schmidt's fair treatment in the case. He added he's concerned that Schmidt's lawyer doesn't have security clearance, which impairs his defense by limiting the pilot's access to counsel.
A Department of Defense spokeswoman declined to comment on the letter, saying Rumsfeld was out of the country.
Blagojevich recently met with Schmidt's wife.