In a significant political move, President Trump has granted a full pardon to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of multiple corruption-related offenses, including attempting to sell a U.S. Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama.
Blagojevich governed Illinois from 2003 to 2009, a period marked by considerable political turbulence. In 2008, federal prosecutors accused him of exploiting the state’s government for personal gain, including alleged attempts to extort a children’s hospital and racetrack operators. A key piece of evidence against him was a secretly recorded conversation, laced with profanity, where he discussed the Senate seat.
Blagojevich famously asserted, “I mean, I’ve got this thing, and it’s [expletive] golden. And I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing.” He maintained that his actions were merely part of political negotiations and took his case to the public through a national media tour.
In January 2009, he was impeached and removed from office, with formal charges following in March. Blagojevich later gained notoriety for his appearance on the reality show Celebrity Apprentice, where he was eliminated early on.
Convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 14 years in prison, Blagojevich ultimately served eight years before President Trump commuted his sentence during his term. This decision prompted backlash from several Illinois political leaders, emphasizing the importance of accountability in a state often scrutinized for its political corruption.
Upon his release, Blagojevich, alongside his wife, held a press conference declaring his gratitude to President Trump and criticizing the criminal justice system, stating it was both flawed and unjust.
“We want to express our most profound and everlasting gratitude to President Trump,” Blagojevich stated. “How do you properly thank someone who has given you back the freedom that was stolen from you?”
Emphasizing his political affiliations, he referred to himself as a “Trump-ocrat.” In response, President Trump characterized Blagojevich’s original sentencing as a “terrible injustice,” describing him as a nice man.
