Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich
Born:	December 10, 1956 Chicago, Illinois
Charges:	Corruption, Wire fraud, Extortion, Bribery
Sentence:	14 years (commuted to 8, then pardoned)
Facility:	FCI Englewood
Status:	Pardoned

Rod Rod Blagojevich (born December 10, 1956) is a former Governor of Illinois who served 8 years in federal prison before having his sentence commuted by President Donald Trump in 2020 and receiving a full pardon in 2025. He was convicted of 18 counts of corruption, including attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama, and was originally sentenced to 14 years in federal prison—one of the longest sentences ever given to a public official for corruption. Blagojevich became the fourth Illinois governor in history to serve prison time and was impeached and removed from office in 2009, becoming only the second state executive to be removed in U.S. history.

Current Status

As of December 2025, Rod Blagojevich is a free man following his full presidential pardon from Donald Trump on February 10, 2025. The pardon cleared his criminal record entirely. However, he remains barred from holding public office in Illinois due to his 2009 impeachment by the state legislature, a ruling that cannot be reversed by a presidential pardon. He has described himself as a "Trumpocrat" and has been active in Republican politics since his release.

What Is Rod Blagojevich Doing Now (2024-2025)?

Following his release and pardon, Blagojevich has remained active in public life:

Political Involvement: Blagojevich supported Trump's 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns and attended the 2024 Republican National Convention. He has described himself as a "Trumpocrat"—a Democrat who supports Donald Trump. In May 2025, reports indicated he was considering a bid to succeed Dick Durbin in the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Illinois, though he remained undecided on which party he would represent.

Podcast Career: In May 2020, shortly after his release, Blagojevich launched "The Lightning Rod," a politics-themed podcast on WLS-AM 890 in Chicago. The podcast ran through September 2021, featuring his commentary on current events and politics.

Potential Appointments: In February 2025, Politico reported that Trump was considering nominating Blagojevich to be U.S. ambassador to Serbia—a country with ties to Blagojevich's family, as his parents emigrated from Serbia in the 1940s. When asked, Trump said "No, but I would" consider such an appointment.

Book Plans: Following his pardon, Blagojevich announced plans to write a book about his experiences. He has made clear he will not apologize for his actions, maintaining his innocence despite the convictions.

Limitations on His Future

Despite his pardon, Blagojevich faces permanent limitations:

• The Illinois State Supreme Court revoked his law license in 2012—a pardon cannot restore it
• His 2009 impeachment bars him from holding office in Illinois
• In August 2021, he filed a lawsuit to overturn the office-holding ban, but it was dismissed on March 21, 2024
• A presidential pardon has no effect on state-level impeachment proceedings

Summary

Rod Blagojevich's political career reached its peak when he was elected Governor of Illinois in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. His downfall began on December 9, 2008, when FBI agents arrested him at his Chicago home on corruption charges. The arrest came just weeks after Barack Obama's election as President, as Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps appearing to solicit bribes in exchange for appointing someone to Obama's vacated Senate seat. In one infamous recording, Blagojevich described the Senate seat as "f***ing golden" and said he wasn't going to give it away "for f***ing nothing."

The Illinois House of Representatives voted unanimously (114-1) to impeach Blagojevich on January 9, 2009, and the Illinois Senate removed him from office on January 29, 2009, by a vote of 59-0, making him only the second U.S. governor to be removed from office through impeachment. The same day, the Senate voted to bar him from holding public office in Illinois.

Background

Early Life and Education

Milorod "Rod" Blagojevich was born on December 10, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Radisa and Mila Blagojevich, immigrated to the United States from Serbia in the 1940s. He grew up on the North Side of Chicago and attended Foreman High School.

Blagojevich earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in 1979 and a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983. He worked briefly as a Cook County State's Attorney and later entered private practice.

Political Career

• 1992: Elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
• 1996: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (5th District)
• 1998, 2000: Re-elected to Congress
• 2002: Elected Governor of Illinois, defeating Republican Jim Ryan
• 2006: Re-elected Governor, defeating Judy Baar Topinka
• 2009: Impeached and removed from office

As governor, Blagojevich implemented popular programs including free public transit for seniors and expanded healthcare for children. However, his administration was plagued by corruption allegations almost from the start, with several of his appointees and associates being indicted or convicted of various crimes.

Indictment, Prosecution, and Sentencing

Federal Investigation

The FBI began investigating Blagojevich in 2004 as part of "Operation Board Games," a wide-ranging corruption probe. Agents obtained court authorization to wiretap his phones in October 2008, just before the presidential election.

Arrest and Charges

On December 9, 2008, Blagojevich was arrested at his home on federal corruption charges. The criminal complaint alleged he had:

• Attempted to sell or trade Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat
• Tried to extort the Tribune Company for campaign contributions in exchange for state assistance
• Solicited bribes from a children's hospital executive
• Misused state funds for campaign purposes

Trials

Blagojevich's first trial in 2010 ended with the jury deadlocked on 23 of 24 charges, convicting him only of lying to federal agents. Prosecutors retried him in 2011.

On June 27, 2011, a federal jury convicted Blagojevich of 17 additional counts, including:

• Wire fraud
• Attempted extortion
• Soliciting bribes
• Conspiracy to solicit bribes

Sentence

On December 7, 2011, U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced Blagojevich to 14 years in federal prison—one of the longest sentences ever imposed on a public official for corruption. The judge rejected Blagojevich's request for a new trial and noted his complete lack of remorse.

Prison Experience

Blagojevich reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, Colorado, on March 15, 2012, to begin serving his sentence. FCI Englewood is a low-security federal prison near Denver.

During his incarceration, Blagojevich worked various jobs including cleaning toilets and teaching history classes to fellow inmates. He maintained that he was innocent throughout his imprisonment.

Clemency

Commutation (2020)

On February 18, 2020, President Trump commuted Blagojevich's sentence, releasing him from prison after serving approximately eight years. Trump said Blagojevich's sentence was "ridiculous" and noted he had been on "The Celebrity Apprentice" (though Blagojevich's wife Patti actually appeared on the show, not Rod himself). The commutation freed Blagojevich but did not clear his criminal record.

Full Pardon (2025)

On February 10, 2025, President Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to Blagojevich, clearing his criminal record entirely. Trump called Blagojevich "a very fine person" and said "It's my honor to do it. I've watched him. He was set up by a lot of bad people." Trump said the conviction and prison sentence "shouldn't have happened."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was the disgraced governor of Illinois?

Rod Blagojevich, the 40th Governor of Illinois (2003-2009), is often referred to as the "disgraced governor" of Illinois. He was arrested on corruption charges in December 2008, impeached and removed from office in January 2009, and convicted of 18 corruption counts in 2011. He was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison—one of the longest sentences ever given to a public official. However, President Trump commuted his sentence in 2020 and granted him a full pardon in 2025.

Q: What did Rod Blagojevich do?

Blagojevich was convicted of attempting to sell Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat, extorting a children's hospital for campaign contributions, and various other corruption charges. In wiretapped conversations, he famously described the Senate seat as "f***ing golden" and said he wouldn't give it away "for f***ing nothing." He was convicted of 18 counts including wire fraud, extortion, and bribery.

Q: Was Rod Blagojevich pardoned?

Yes. President Trump first commuted Blagojevich's 14-year sentence in February 2020, freeing him from prison after serving 8 years. Then, on February 10, 2025, Trump granted him a full and unconditional pardon, clearing his criminal record entirely. Trump called him "a very fine person" and said he was "set up by a lot of bad people." However, the pardon cannot overturn his impeachment or restore his right to hold office in Illinois.

Q: How long was Rod Blagojevich in prison?

Blagojevich served approximately 8 years in federal prison at FCI Englewood in Colorado. He was originally sentenced to 14 years on December 7, 2011, and reported to prison on March 15, 2012. President Trump commuted his sentence on February 18, 2020, allowing his release. Trump later granted him a full pardon on February 10, 2025.

Q: What is Rod Blagojevich doing now?

As of 2025, Blagojevich is active in Republican politics, describing himself as a "Trumpocrat" (a Democrat who supports Trump). He attended the 2024 Republican National Convention and has been considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2026. He hosted a podcast called "The Lightning Rod" from 2020-2021 and is planning to write a book. Trump has also considered him for ambassador to Serbia. He remains barred from holding office in Illinois due to his impeachment.

Q: Can Rod Blagojevich run for office again?

Rod Blagojevich cannot hold public office in Illinois. When the Illinois Senate removed him from office in January 2009, they also voted to permanently bar him from holding state office. This ban cannot be overturned by a presidential pardon, as it stems from state impeachment proceedings. He filed a lawsuit in 2021 to challenge the ban, but it was dismissed in March 2024. He could potentially run for federal office or office in another state.

See also

• Presidential Clemency and Pardons
• Wire Fraud
• Public Corruption