Trump Pardons Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

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Trump commuted Blagojevichโ€™s 14-year prison sentence in 2020.

President Donald Trump pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Feb. 10.

Blagojevich, a Democrat, served eight years of a 14-year prison sentence before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020.

โ€œItโ€™s my honor to do it. Iโ€™ve watched him, he was set up by a lot of bad people,โ€ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump said at the time that Blagojevich had served enough of a sentence, which was the result of a conviction for trying to sell the Senate seat of former President Barack Obama when the latter was elected president in 2008.

Blagojevich, a former U.S. House member, was also convicted of attempting to get kickbacks from a childrenโ€™s hospital and the Illinois horse racing industry, in addition to lying to the FBI.

Blagojevich was convicted in 2010 and 2011 on 18 felony corruption-related charges.

โ€œHe served eight years in jail, a long time,โ€ Trump said in 2020. โ€œHe seems like a very nice person.โ€In a statement at the time, the White House said that โ€œduring his confinement, Mr. Blagojevich has demonstrated exemplary character, devoting himself to improving the lives of his fellow prisoners.โ€

โ€œHe tutors and teaches GED (general educational development) classes, mentors prisoners regarding personal and professional development, and speaks to them about their civic duties,โ€ said the administration.

In 2019, Trump said his administration was reviewing Blagojevichโ€™s case.

โ€œRod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has served 7 years. Many people have asked that I study the possibility of commuting his sentence in that it was a very severe one. White House staff is continuing the review of this matter,โ€ he posted on social media platform X, then Twitter.

During Blagojevichโ€™s sentencing in 2011, the judge and U.S. attorney said that Blagojevich had let down the people of Illinois.

โ€œWhen it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn, disfigured and not easily repaired,โ€ said then-U.S. District Judge James Zagel. โ€œThe harm here is not measured in the value of money or property … the harm is the erosion of public trust in government.โ€

Byย Jackson Richman

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