Written by Jonathan Whitaker.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is once again making headlines, thanks to former President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon him—this time fully erasing his past corruption charges. A person familiar with Trump’s plans revealed that the former president intended to sign the pardon on Monday, removing the remaining legal barriers tied to Blagojevich’s criminal past.
Blagojevich’s original 14-year prison sentence was cut short when Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. The Democrat-turned-celebrity spent eight years behind bars for attempting to sell an appointment to Barack Obama’s old Senate seat and trying to strong-arm a children’s hospital into making campaign donations. Now, Trump is taking things one step further, ensuring that Blagojevich walks away with a completely clean slate.
A Reality Show Friendship Turned Political Favor?
Blagojevich’s ties to Trump go beyond politics. The disgraced governor was once a contestant on Trump’s reality TV show, Celebrity Apprentice, back in 2010. Even then, Trump seemed to admire his audacity, famously telling him, “You have a hell of a lot of guts,” before firing him from the show. Years later, that admiration turned into action as Trump first commuted his sentence and now plans to grant him a full pardon.
It’s no secret that Trump has a habit of rewarding allies who show loyalty. Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, campaigned hard for her husband’s release during Trump’s first term. She frequently appeared on Fox News, where she praised Trump and drew comparisons between the political prosecution of her husband and Trump’s own legal troubles. The strategy seems to have paid off.
Controversy Surrounding Trump’s Pardons
Trump’s use of presidential clemency has been anything but conventional. In his latest term, he has already granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals—all of whom were charged in connection with the January 6th Capitol riot. Some of those pardoned were convicted of violent crimes against police officers, while others were leaders of far-right extremist groups attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Blagojevich’s pardon, however, is particularly striking because of its bipartisan backlash. When Trump commuted his sentence in 2020, politicians from both sides of the aisle criticized the decision. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that Trump was “abusing his pardon power to reward his friends and condone corruption.”
What’s Next for Blagojevich?
A full pardon means Blagojevich could theoretically regain certain rights, such as voting, serving on a jury, running for office, and owning firearms. However, there are some barriers he can’t overcome. The Illinois Supreme Court revoked his law license, and a federal judge upheld a ban preventing him from holding public office again. While a pardon might clear his record, it doesn’t change the fact that the state Senate impeached and removed him from office over a decade ago.
Even if he wanted to stage a political comeback, the odds are stacked against him. Illinois lawmakers are unlikely to lift his lifetime ban from holding office, and voters haven’t forgotten his corruption scandal. For now, his future remains uncertain.
Our Take
Trump’s decision to pardon Blagojevich—again—is just another example of political favors taking priority over accountability. Blagojevich was convicted of blatant corruption, and yet he’s walking free while everyday Americans face harsh penalties for far lesser crimes. This kind of move sends a dangerous message: If you have the right connections, you can dodge consequences, no matter how severe your wrongdoing.
At a time when trust in government is already at an all-time low, handing out pardons like party favors only deepens public skepticism. It’s one thing to show mercy, but it’s another to repeatedly erase the crimes of those who abused public trust. Corruption shouldn’t be brushed aside just because someone played nice on TV.
Trump’s latest pardon spree continues to blur the line between justice and political maneuvering. If the justice system is supposed to apply to everyone equally, actions like this only serve to undermine that principle.
