{"id":34797,"date":"2026-01-01T08:37:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2026\/01\/01\/blagojevich-seeks-ex-comed-ceos-clemency-from-political-corruption-conviction\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T08:37:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:37:44","slug":"blagojevich-seeks-ex-comed-ceos-clemency-from-political-corruption-conviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2026\/01\/01\/blagojevich-seeks-ex-comed-ceos-clemency-from-political-corruption-conviction\/","title":{"rendered":"Blagojevich seeks ex-ComEd CEO\u2019s clemency from political corruption conviction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Case<\/h2>\n

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is lobbying President Donald Trump for ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore\u2019s clemency after she was convicted of conspiring to influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for legislation favoring the utility company.<\/p>\n

Background on Blagojevich’s Involvement<\/h2>\n

Blagojevich, whose 14-year prison sentence for political corruption was commuted in 2020 and pardoned last February by Trump, filed lobbying paperwork Monday with Congress to represent Pramaggiore. Pramaggiore was sentenced in July to two years in prison after she and three others were found guilty of a nearly decade-long bribery scheme to sway Madigan to benefit ComEd.<\/p>\n

The Conviction and Its Aftermath<\/h2>\n

In a statement to the Sun-Times, Blagojevich said he\u2019s trying to do his best \u201cto prevent a terrible injustice.\u201d \u201cAnne Pramaggiore is 100% innocent, a victim of the Illinois Democratic machine, prosecutorial lawfare, and this case is exactly the kind of prosecutorial overreach that President Trump has railed against,\u201d Blagojevich said.<\/p>\n

Pramaggiore’s Defense and Next Steps<\/h2>\n

A spokesperson for Pramaggiore, Mark Herr, referred to Trump\u2019s previous decision to pause enforcement of a law Pramaggiore has been convicted of violating \u2014 the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act \u2014 because it had been \u201cstretched beyond proper bounds and abused.\u201d \u201cDespite having lost the bribery conviction and the case\u2019s complete lack of foreign activity, the prosecutors refused to end the case, even in the face of President Trump\u2019s Executive Order warning against prosecutorial abuses in FCPA cases,\u201d Herr said in a statement. \u201cShe is pursuing all avenues to reverse this injustice.\u201d \u201cIf former Governor Blagojevich can help turn this wrong to right, she\u2019s glad to have his help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other Key Figures Involved<\/h2>\n

Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain and ex-City Club President Jay Doherty were also convicted in the scheme. A federal judge tossed a series of bribery counts in the ComEd case, leaving each of the four defendants convicted of conspiracy, as well as four counts of falsifying books and records under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Madigan was sentenced to 7 \u00bd years in prison after being convicted of bribery and wire fraud in a separate trial.<\/p>\n

Current Status and Future Developments<\/h2>\n

Pramaggiore was initially ordered to report to prison Dec. 1, but the court granted her a delay due to medical reasons, according to her spokesperson. She is now due to report Jan. 12. Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 on charges that included seeking to sell an appointment to then-President Barack Obama\u2019s old Senate seat and trying to shake down a children\u2019s hospital. Blagojevich served eight years in prison before Trump cut short his term in 2020.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The case of Anne Pramaggiore and the involvement of Rod Blagojevich in seeking her clemency highlights the complex and often controversial nature of political corruption cases. As the situation unfolds, it will be important to monitor the legal proceedings and any further developments in the quest for clemency.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n