Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted of corruption for attempting to sell a U.S. Senate seat, was pardoned by President Trump. Blagojevich, who served from 2003 to 2009, faced charges in 2008 for his corrupt practices, famously recorded in a profanity-laden call. Following impeachment and a 14-year sentence, Trump commuted his sentence in 2020 after Blagojevich spent eight years in prison. The decision faced rebuke from political leaders in Illinois but was welcomed by Blagojevich, who labeled himself a "freed political prisoner" and criticized the judicial system.
"I mean, I've got this thing, and it's [expletive] golden. And I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing," Blagojevich stated, revealing his mindset during the corruption investigations.
Blagojevich declared himself a "freed political prisoner," criticizing the criminal justice system as broken and unfair during a news conference after his release.
Collection
[
|
...
]