Trump Pardons Ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Years After Commuting His Sentence
Blagojevich Receives Full Pardon from Trump
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has received a full pardon from former President Donald Trump, five years after his 14-year prison sentence was commuted in 2020.
Trump, who had previously called Blagojevich’s sentence unfair, signed the pardon on Monday, calling him “a very fine person” and claiming his conviction “shouldn’t have happened.”
“I’ve watched him. He was set up by a lot of bad people, some of the same people I had to deal with,” Trump said at the White House while signing the pardon.
Blagojevich’s Conviction and Sentence
Blagojevich, a Democrat, was convicted in 2011 on 18 federal corruption charges, including:
- Trying to sell an appointment to Barack Obama’s former Senate seat.
- Attempting to extort a children’s hospital for campaign contributions.
He served eight years in prison before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020, allowing him to be released early.
Outside his Chicago home, Blagojevich expressed gratitude:
“I’ll always be profoundly grateful to President Trump for everything he’s done for me and my family. It’s everlasting gratitude. He’s a great guy.”
Trump’s Previous Support for Blagojevich
Blagojevich was a contestant on Trump’s reality show, “Celebrity Apprentice,” in 2010, before his first trial.
At the time, Trump praised Blagojevich’s fight against his charges, telling him:
“You have a hell of a lot of guts.”
Despite this, Trump made a conflicting claim on Monday:
“I didn’t know him,” before admitting, “I believe he was on my show for a little while.”
Trump’s Ongoing Criticism of Investigators
Trump linked Blagojevich’s prosecution to his own legal battles, criticizing investigators like:
- Patrick Fitzgerald – the former U.S. attorney who prosecuted Blagojevich.
- James Comey – the former FBI director, fired by Trump in 2017.
- Robert Mueller – the special counsel who investigated Trump’s ties to Russia.
“It was a prosecution by the same people — Comey, Fitzpatrick, the same group,” Trump claimed.
Pardon Controversy and Legal Barriers
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticized Trump’s decision, calling it an “abuse of power” that “condones corruption.”
- Despite the pardon, Blagojevich cannot run for Illinois state office due to his 2009 impeachment by the state Senate.
- His law license remains revoked by the Illinois Supreme Court, a decision the pardon cannot overturn.
However, legal experts say it is unclear if the pardon allows him to run for federal office.
Trump’s History of Clemency
This pardon comes after Trump granted clemency to over 1,500 people convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including:
- Violent offenders who attacked police officers.
- Far-right extremist group leaders involved in failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Final Thoughts
Blagojevich’s full pardon remains controversial, highlighting Trump’s pattern of granting clemency to allies and high-profile figures. While he is now legally free, his political future remains uncertain due to legal restrictions in Illinois.
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