Rod R. Blagojevich (born December 10, 1956) was 40th Governor of Illinois beginning January 13, 2003 and ending January 29, 2009. He succeeded George Ryan, who would also be arrested for non-related charges. Blagojevich was the first Governor of Illinois to be impeached while in office and the first Democratic politician in over 25 years to face such charges.[5] In February 2020, President Donald Trump ended Blagojevich's prison sentence four years earlier.
Rod Blagojevich | |
|---|---|
_(1).jpg) Blagojevich in 2007 | |
| 40th Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 13, 2003 – January 29, 2009 | |
| Lieutenant | Pat Quinn |
| Preceded by | George Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Pat Quinn |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Flanagan |
| Succeeded by | Rahm Emanuel |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 33rd district | |
| In office January 6, 1993 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Myron Kulas |
| Succeeded by | John Fritchey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rod Blagojevich December 10, 1956 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (1992-2024)[1][2][3] Republican (2024-Present) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Criminal information | |
| Criminal status |
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| Conviction(s) |
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| Criminal penalty | Served nearly 8 years of a 14 year sentence; commuted 2020, Pardon 2025 |
Early life
changeBlagojevich was born in Chicago, Illinois, the second of four children. His father, Radislav, was an immigrant steel plant laborer from a village near Kragujevac, Serbia.[6] Blagojevich graduated from Chicago's Foreman High School after transferring from Lane Technical High School. He began boxing at a young age.
Governor of Illinois
changeDuring 2002, Blagojevich campaigned for his party's nomination to become governor. Blagojevich won a close primary campaign against former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris and Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas, who ran well in the suburban collar counties of Chicago.[7] Blagojevich finished strongly in Southern Illinois, winning 55% of the primary vote downstate, enough to win a primary victory by a thin margin.
In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Topinka and the Green Party's Rich Whitney, outspending Topinka $27 million to $6 million.[8][9] He attempted to tie Topinka to former Republican governor George Ryan's corruption.[10] Blagojevich won re-election.
Arrest and conviction
changeHe was arrested in December 2008 on federal corruption charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.[11][12] Blagojevich was later impeached during January 2009, convicted and removed from office on January 29, 2009. On December 7, 2011, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. He is held at Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood in Jefferson County, Colorado.
On May 31, 2018, President Donald Trump, soon after having pardoned commentator Dinesh D'Souza, told reporters that he was considering reducing Blagojevich's sentence (without pardoning him). Trump called Blagojevich's 14-year sentence "unfair", saying that Blagojevich's statements about enriching himself were "stupid", but also the sort of thing "that many other politicians say".[13]
President Donald Trump commuted his sentence on February 18, 2020, ending his sentence four years early.[14]
On February 10, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to Blagojevich using the power given to presidents in the Constitution. While Blagojevich had already been walking free since Trump’s 2020 commutation of his sentence, the pardon cleared Blagojevich’s criminal record.[15]
Personal life
changeBlagojevich has been married to Patricia Mell Blagojevich. They have two children. His family owns a home in Ravenswood, Chicago, but live in Jefferson County, Colorado because of Blagojevich's prison stay.
References
change- ↑ "Rod Blagojevich drops into Milwaukee to tout Trump. Illinois GOP left unenthused". Chicago Tribune. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ↑ "Disgraced ex- Illinois Gov. Blagojevich now a 'Trump-o-crat' with praise for his 'his new Republican Party'". New York Post. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ↑ "Blagojevich: Democratic Party 'unrecognizable'". NewsNation. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ↑ "List of Blagojevich convictions, max sentences". Journal Star. December 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office". Chicago Tribune.com. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ↑ Copley News Service. Three Democrats battle for party's nomination for governor. March 9, 2002.
- ↑ "2002 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results – Illinois". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ↑ Monica Davey (December 14, 2008). "Two Sides of a Troubled Governor, Sinking Deeper". The New York Times.
- ↑ Christopher Wills (December 14, 2008). "Ill. governor: Eager for battle, rarely victorious". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ↑ Riopell, Mike (December 10, 2008). "History repeats itself: Blagojevich not the first Gov. to be charged while in office". Bloomington Pantagraph. Archived from the original on 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ↑ Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody Chicago Breaking News. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
- ↑ "Illinois gov. rod r. blagojevich and his chief of staff john harris arrested on federal corruption charges" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
- ↑ Diamond, Jeremy (May 31, 2018). "Trump floats Martha Stewart pardon, Rod Blagojevich commutation". CNN.com.
- ↑ Sweet, Lynn; Seidel, Jon; Sneed, Michael (February 18, 2020). "Trump commutes prison sentence of disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich". Chicago Sun-Times.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel gave Blagojevich 14 years, putting him on track for release in March 2024.
- ↑ Staff, N. P. R. (2025-02-10). "Trump pardons disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich". NPR. Retrieved 2025-02-11.