Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, pardoned by President Trump, reflects on his prison experience and maintains his innocence.
Quick Takes
- Rod Blagojevich expresses profound gratitude to President Trump for his pardon
- Blagojevich served nearly 8 years in prison on corruption charges
- Trump described Blagojevich as “a very fine person” set up by “bad people”
- Blagojevich maintains his innocence, calling his actions “routine political deals”
- The pardon received bipartisan criticism, including from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
Blagojevich’s Gratitude and Claims of Innocence
Rod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois, has spoken out about his pardon by President Donald Trump, expressing deep appreciation for the President’s decision. Blagojevich, who served nearly eight years in prison on corruption charges, including allegations of attempting to sell Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, had his sentence commuted by Trump in 2020. He maintains his innocence and claims he was the victim of politically motivated attacks.
In a statement, Blagojevich declared, “I didn’t break a law. That so-called sale of the Senate seat was reversed by the appellate court many years later, after I sat in prison for a long time…And my goal is to get full and complete vindication and show just how corrupt those prosecutors were who threw me in jail for eight years.”
Trump pardons ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich 5 years after commuting his sentence https://t.co/A2fjBtmRwX
— Live5News (@Live5News) February 11, 2025
Trump’s Support and Controversial Decision
President Trump’s decision to pardon Blagojevich was not without controversy. The President described Blagojevich as “a very fine person” and suggested that he was “set up by a lot of bad people.” Trump drew parallels between Blagojevich’s case and his own experiences, citing similar figures involved in both investigations.
“It was a prosecution by the same people — Comey, Fitzpatrick, the same group,” said Trump.
The pardon, however, received bipartisan criticism. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the decision, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the case. Despite the pardon, Blagojevich’s law license remains revoked, and he is barred from holding public office in Illinois due to his impeachment.
Legal Implications and Future Prospects
Blagojevich’s conviction on 18 counts, with five later overturned by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has had lasting implications. While the pardon restores certain civil rights, it does not erase all consequences of his conviction. Blagojevich is disbarred and ineligible for a state pension, though he receives a $15,000 annual pension from his congressional service.
Despite these limitations, Blagojevich remains optimistic about his future. Now self-described as a “Trumpocrat,” he has aligned himself with Trump’s political narrative. While he cannot hold state office in Illinois, the possibility of running for federal office remains open, though Blagojevich has stated he has no current plans to return to politics.
