In a significant development, President Donald Trump officially pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on a recent Monday, a long-awaited decision following his earlier commutation of Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence stemming from political corruption charges during Trump’s presidency.
President Trump praised Blagojevich, labeling him “a very fine person” while asserting that the conviction and sentence were undeserved. He noted, “I’ve watched him. He was set up by a lot of bad people, some of the same people I had to deal with,” as he signed the pardon at the White House.
Blagojevich faced conviction in 2011 for several serious charges, including attempting to sell an appointment to then-President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat and trying to extort a children’s hospital. After serving eight years in prison, he saw his sentence cut short in 2020 when Trump commuted it. Following the pardon announcement, Blagojevich expressed his gratitude to Trump, remarking, “I’ll always be profoundly grateful to President Trump for everything he’s done for me and my family,” adding that his appreciation for the president would last forever.
The initiative to pardon Blagojevich came shortly after Trump faced scrutiny for his connections to Russia and alleged election interference in 2016. Trump drew parallels between the actions against him and the prosecution that led to Blagojevich’s downfall. “It was a prosecution by the same people — Comey, Fitzpatrick, the same group,” Trump stated, mentioning Patrick Fitzgerald, the former U.S. attorney responsible for Blagojevich’s prosecution. Fitzgerald later represented James Comey, whom Trump controversially dismissed from the FBI in 2017.
Notably, the former special counsel Robert Mueller oversaw the inquiry into the alleged Russian interference during Trump’s 2016 campaign and was the FBI director at the time of Blagojevich’s investigation.
Since taking office, Trump has granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals affected by convictions related to the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol. His clemency measures included releasing individuals convicted of violent actions against law enforcement and members of extremist groups involved in failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Back in 2010, Blagojevich had appeared on Trump’s reality TV series, “Celebrity Apprentice,” prior to his first criminal trial, which Trump referenced during the show. Trump showed some sympathy towards Blagojevich during the episode, praising his determination in fighting his legal troubles. However, he later appeared to contradict himself by claiming, “I didn’t know him,” while acknowledging that Blagojevich had a brief appearance on his show.
Responding to rumors about possibly appointing Blagojevich as ambassador to Serbia, Trump stated, “No, but I would. He’s now cleaner than anybody in this room.” Patti Blagojevich, Rod’s wife, engaged in public campaigns for her husband’s release during Trump’s initial term and frequently appeared on Fox News, which is known to be Trump’s preferred network. She often drew comparisons between their situations and expressed admiration for Trump.
The pardon has received criticism from various political figures in Illinois, transcending party lines. Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned Trump’s action, declaring it as an abuse of pardon power that sends a negative message at a critical time.
Typically, a pardon reinstates certain civil rights such as the right to vote and run for public office; however, Blagojevich’s law license was revoked by the state Supreme Court, a decision that cannot be reversed through a pardon. Furthermore, his 2009 impeachment by the state Senate prohibits him from holding any future state office. A federal judge dismissed his lawsuit claiming this ban infringed upon his rights, leaving uncertainty about whether the pardon would enable his candidacy for federal positions.
Blagojevich was convicted on 18 counts, but in 2015, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago overturned five of those convictions, including charges related to job offers in the Senate.
