Trump Pardons Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois governor and convicted felon Rod Blagojevich speaks to the press outside of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Aug. 2, 2021. Scott Olson/Getty Images

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.

“It’s my honor to do it. I’ve watched him, he was set up by a lot of bad people,” 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 children’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.

“He served eight years in jail, a long time,” Trump said in 2020. “He seems like a very nice person.”

In a statement at the time, the White House said that “during his confinement, Mr. Blagojevich has demonstrated exemplary character, devoting himself to improving the lives of his fellow prisoners.”

“He tutors and teaches GED (general educational development) classes, mentors prisoners regarding personal and professional development, and speaks to them about their civic duties,” said the administration.

In 2019, Trump said his administration was reviewing Blagojevich’s case.

“Rod 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,” he posted on social media platform X, then Twitter.

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

“When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn, disfigured and not easily repaired,” said then-U.S. District Judge James Zagel. “The harm here is not measured in the value of money or property ... the harm is the erosion of public trust in government.”

“Blagojevich betrayed the trust and faith that Illinois voters placed in him, feeding great public frustration, cynicism and disengagement among citizens. People have the right to expect that their elected leaders will honor the oath they swear to, and this sentence shows that the justice system will stand up to protect their expectations,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, who was then the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

In 2010, Blagojevich appeared on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” which Trump hosted. He was eliminated in the fourth week.

Blagojevich was arrested in December 2008 and was removed as governor of Illinois in 2009. He was barred from serving in public office in Illinois again.

Illinois disbarred him in 2020.