President Trump granted a full pardon to Rod R. Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, who was convicted for corruption in 2011. Trump stated that Blagojevich was set up by bad people. Blagojevich, who served from 2003 to 2009, had previously been commuted by Trump in 2020 after serving eight years of a 14-year sentence. Blagojevich maintained his innocence and claimed overzealous prosecution. The relationship between Blagojevich and Trump dates back to appearances on 'The Celebrity Apprentice', which may have influenced Trump's later decisions regarding Blagojevich's case.
"I've watched him. He was set up by a lot of bad people, some of the same people that I had to deal with."
"It's been a long, long journey... I'm bruised, I'm battered and I'm bloody."
"Federal prosecutors said Mr. Blagojevich's conduct... was so abysmal that it would make Lincoln roll over in his grave."
"While Mr. Blagojevich was awaiting trial... he made appeals to Mr. Trump, appearing on The Celebrity Apprentice when Mr. Trump was the host."
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