President Trump on Monday signed a complete and unconditional pardon for Rod Blagojevich, the previous Democratic governor of Illinois, who served 8 years in jail on corruption fees till Trump commuted his sentence in 2020.
“It’s my honor to do it. I’ve watched him. He was set up by a lot of bad people,” Trump informed newshounds within the Oval Place of job Monday, in a while after he signed the pardon.
The instant got here just about 5 years after the president, in his first time period, commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence, calling it a “tremendously powerful, ridiculous sentence” on the time.
Blagojevich was once arrested through federal government in 2008 in an expansive corruption case that in the end ended in his impeachment within the state Space and his removing from workplace in 2009.
He was once later convicted on corruption fees, together with tried extortion of a youngsters’s medical institution for marketing campaign contributions and seeking to promote former President Obama’s Senate seat after he was once elected to the White Space in 2008. The previous governor started serving a 14-year jail sentence in 2012.
He was once infamously stuck on tape talking in regards to the pay-for-play scheme involving Obama’s seat.
“I’ve got this thing, and it’s f—–g golden. I’m just not giving it up for f—–g nothing,” Blagojevich stated in a recorded telephone name.
Trump and Blagojevich have crossed paths earlier than. The 2 males knew each and every different when the previous governor gave the impression as a contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice.”
In 2020, upon his unlock from jail, Blagojevich informed newshounds that he had “profound and everlasting gratitude” for Trump, who’s “got obviously a big fan in me.”
“And should you’re asking me what my celebration association is, I’m a Trump-ocrat,” he added on the time.
In 2021, Blagojevich stated he was once suing the state of Illinois in an try to run for workplace once more.
Politico lately reported Blagojevich is being regarded as to function Trump’s ambassador to Serbia. In a up to date remark, Blagojevich denied in quest of the ambassadorship.
“I’m not asking President Trump for anything. I’m profoundly grateful to him for commuting my 14-year prison sentence and giving my daughter’s their father back,” Blagojevich posted on X. “What I am seeking is justice and for the truth of the corrupt prosecution against me to be exposed. If we are going to save our democracy, lawfare and the weaponization of prosecutors for political purposes must end and those who engage in it must be brought to account.”
