President Trump Pardons Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Calls Him Victim of “Terrible Injustice”
President Trump Grants Pardon, Blames “Terrible Injustice” by Justice Department
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump granted ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich a full and unconditional pardon on Monday, five years after commuting his 14-year sentence for political corruption, telling reporters after erasing his conviction that he’s now “cleaner than anybody in this room.”
A Product of Trump’s Grievances Against Justice Department Prosecutors
Blagojevich’s pardon and earlier commutation are a product of Trump’s grievances against Justice Department prosecutors, particularly former Special Counsel Robert Mueller and former FBI Director James Comey, who also played a role in pursuing Blagojevich for trying to “sell” the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he won the presidency.
Blagojevich Met Trump on “Celebrity Apprentice” Show
Blagojevich, 68, met Trump when he was a contestant on Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” show in 2010, before his court case was fully resolved. Though he ended up being “fired,” Trump took a liking to the outgoing former governor.
Trump Misstates Sentence, Calls it a “Terrible Injustice”
Misstating the sentence, Trump said, “He was given a sentence of like 18 years and it was sort of a terrible injustice. They were just after him. They go after a lot of people. These are bad people, the other side, so I think he’s a very fine person and this should never have happened. And it should not have happened to him. Let him have a normal life and go out and do what he has to do.”
Blagojevich Declines Comment on Ambassador Nomination Rumors
Blagojevich appeared outside his home and said he and Trump have both been victims of “lawfare” and politically motivated prosecutors who hit them with “fake charges.” He said he never wavered “in my determination to prove to the people of Illinois and everybody else who was listening that I broke no laws, crossed no lines, never took a penny.”
Trump’s Critique of Federal and State Prosecutors
The pardon comes in the larger context of Trump’s condemnation of federal and state prosecutors who indicted him in multiple cases, as well as others he deemed unjustly pursued. Since retaking the White House on Jan. 20, Trump has ordered probes of prosecutors who handled cases against him and called for the firings of other prosecutors assigned to cases of people accused of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president.
Senator Dick Durbin Blasts Pardon and Ambassador Nomination
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., blasted the pardon — and the potential of Blagojevich being tapped to be the ambassador to Serbia.
“In a state with more than its fair share of public corruption, the Blagojevich chapter still looms as one of the worst. America and Serbia deserve better,” Durbin said in a statement.
Blagojevich’s Political Career
Blagojevich’s political career was launched after he married Patti Mell, the daughter of then-Ald. Dick Mell, the powerful 33rd Ward boss. He was elected to the state House in 1993, and later to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1997. He won his first term as governor in 2002, but his political fortunes began to unravel in 2004 when reports surfaced that his administration was under federal investigation.
Conclusion
President Trump’s pardon of Rod Blagojevich has sparked outrage and controversy, with many viewing it as an attempt to whitewash a serious case of political corruption. The pardon and Trump’s statements about it raise questions about the president’s views on the criminal justice system and his willingness to use his executive powers to shield his allies from accountability.
FAQs
* What is Rod Blagojevich’s criminal history?
Blagojevich was convicted of political corruption in 2011 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
* What was the purpose of President Trump’s pardon of Blagojevich?
Trump’s pardon was reportedly motivated by his personal grievances against Justice Department prosecutors who pursued Blagojevich for political corruption.
* Will the pardon affect Blagojevich’s ability to hold public office in the future?
The Illinois General Assembly impeachment of Blagojevich means he cannot seek a state office. A pardon does not change that.
Then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich leaves his home through the alley on Dec. 10, 2008, the day after his arrest.
Inmate Rod Blagojevich (left) in 2017, in the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, Colorado. Then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (right) in 2007.
