Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich
Born:	1956-12-10; Chicago, Illinois
Charges:	Corruption, Conspiracy, Wire fraud, Extortion conspiracy, Attempted extortion, Bribery, Making false statements
Sentence:	14 years
Facility:	FCI Englewood
Status:	Sentence commuted (February 18, 2020)

Rod Rod Blagojevich (born December 10, 1956) is an American former politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, he was impeached, convicted, and removed from office for corruption, becoming the first Illinois governor to be removed through impeachment. In 2011, he was convicted on federal corruption charges, including attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. After serving nearly eight years of a 14-year sentence, his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2020.

Early Life

Rod Rod Blagojevich was born on December 10, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois. His father, Rade Blagojevich, was a Serbian immigrant who worked in a steel mill. His mother, Millie, was a ticket taker for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Blagojevich grew up on the North Side of Chicago in a working-class household. He was the second of two sons.

Education

Graduated from Foreman High School in Chicago
Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University (1979)
Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law (1983)

Political Career

Early Political Work

Blagojevich began his political career in the 1980s:

Worked as a clerk for Alderman Edward Vrdolyak
Served as an assistant Cook County State's Attorney
Was active in Democratic Party politics

Illinois State Representative (1993-1997)

Blagojevich was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1992, representing the 33rd District. He served two terms and built a reputation as a moderate Democrat.

U.S. Congress (1997-2003)

In 1996, Blagojevich won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 5th congressional district, succeeding Dan Rostenkowski. He served three terms, compiling a moderate-to-liberal voting record.

Governor of Illinois (2003-2009)

In 2002, Blagojevich was elected Governor of Illinois, defeating Republican Jim Ryan. Key achievements of his tenure included:

Expanded healthcare programs for children and seniors
Increased funding for education
Ethics reforms (ironically, given later events)
Re-elected in 2006, defeating Republican Judy Baar Topinka

However, his administration was plagued by:

Frequent clashes with the state legislature
Allegations of corruption and pay-to-play politics
Federal investigations that began during his first term

Criminal Case

The "Senate Seat for Sale" Scandal

When Barack Obama was elected President in November 2008, Blagojevich had the authority to appoint Obama's successor to the U.S. Senate. Federal investigators recorded Blagojevich discussing how to benefit from the appointment.

In recorded conversations, Blagojevich was heard saying:

"I've got this thing and it's f***ing golden, and I'm just not giving it up for f***in' nothing"
He discussed exchanging the appointment for campaign contributions, a Cabinet position, or other benefits
He explored various quid pro quo arrangements

Arrest

On December 9, 2008, FBI agents arrested Blagojevich at his Chicago home on federal corruption charges. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called the corruption "staggering" and said it would make "Lincoln roll over in his grave."

Impeachment and Removal

The Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 to impeach Blagojevich on January 9, 2009. The Illinois Senate convicted him 59-0 on January 29, 2009, removing him from office and barring him from holding future state office.

First Federal Trial (2010)

Blagojevich's first federal trial ended with the jury deadlocked on 23 of 24 counts. He was convicted on only one count: making false statements to federal agents.

Second Federal Trial (2011)

The retrial resulted in conviction on 17 of 20 counts, including:

Wire fraud (multiple counts)
Attempted extortion
Conspiracy to commit extortion
Bribery
Attempted bribery

Sentencing

On December 7, 2011, Judge James Zagel sentenced Blagojevich to 14 years in federal prison - one of the longest sentences ever given to a public official for corruption.

Judge Zagel stated: "The harm is the erosion of public trust in government... When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured."

Incarceration

FCI Englewood

Blagojevich reported to FCI Englewood, a low-security federal correctional institution in Littleton, Colorado, on March 15, 2012.

Life in Prison

During his incarceration, Blagojevich:

Taught history classes to fellow inmates
Led a rock band called "The Jailhouse Rockers"
Maintained his innocence
Filed multiple appeals
Stayed in touch with his family through visits and calls

Appeals

Blagojevich pursued extensive appeals:

2015: Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated five of his 18 convictions
2016: Supreme Court declined to hear his case
His sentence was reduced from 14 years to approximately 12 years 8 months based on overturned counts

Commutation

On February 18, 2020, President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich's sentence after he had served nearly eight years. Trump stated:

He believed the sentence was too harsh
He was influenced by advocacy from Blagojevich's wife Patti
Several figures, including Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, advocated for clemency

The commutation was controversial:

Critics argued it sent the wrong message about political corruption
Supporters contended the sentence was excessive
It did not constitute a pardon and did not restore his political rights

Post-Release

Return to Public Life

After his release, Blagojevich has:

Made media appearances discussing his case
Written and spoken about his experience
Supported criminal justice reform efforts
Maintained his innocence while expressing gratitude for commutation

Personal Life

Blagojevich is married to Patti Blagojevich (née Mell), daughter of Chicago alderman Dick Mell. They have two daughters, Amy and Annie. Patti was a vocal advocate for her husband's release throughout his incarceration.

Legacy

Illinois Political Corruption

Blagojevich's conviction continued Illinois's troubled history with political corruption:

He was the fourth of the last eight Illinois governors to face criminal charges
His predecessors George Ryan and Dan Walker also served prison time
His case reinforced the state's reputation for pay-to-play politics

Impact on Illinois Politics

The scandal led to:

Increased ethics reform efforts
Greater scrutiny of gubernatorial appointments
Continued debates about political corruption in the state

The Commutation Debate

His commutation raised important questions:

The use of presidential clemency power
Appropriate sentences for political corruption
The role of media advocacy in clemency decisions

References

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