Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat and ex-contestant on Celebrity Apprentice, received a pardon from President Donald Trump on Monday. Blagojevich was convicted of corruption for attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat after Obama’s 2008 presidential win.
Removed from office in 2009, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Trump had previously commuted his sentence during his first term, calling the punishment excessive. The former governor’s sentence was set to last until 2026 before Trump’s intervention.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump called Blagojevich’s case a “terrible injustice.” The disgraced politician had long argued he was the victim of an overzealous, politically motivated prosecution. His claims appeared to resonate with Trump, who has repeatedly criticized federal law enforcement agencies.
Blagojevich unsuccessfully appealed his conviction multiple times, with the Supreme Court rejecting his bid for a sentence reduction in 2018. While awaiting trial in 2010, he appeared on Trump’s reality show, Celebrity Apprentice, boosting his public profile.
Trump’s decision to pardon Blagojevich aligns with his pattern of granting clemency to political figures and allies, often citing prosecutorial overreach. The move drew mixed reactions, with critics arguing that it undermines anti-corruption efforts.
With his record now cleared, Blagojevich reenters public life, though his political future remains uncertain.
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