Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich served as the 40th governor of Illinois, marking a significant moment in the state's political landscape as the first Democrat to hold the office in 25 years. His tenure began in 2003 after a surprising electoral victory, supported by powerful endorsements. However, his governorship was marred by controversy, culminating in his impeachment in 2009 due to allegations of corruption and bribery, particularly related to the appointment of a Senate seat following Barack Obama's election as president. Following his arrest, he faced a tumultuous legal battle that concluded with a 2011 conviction on multiple charges of corruption, resulting in a 14-year prison sentence.
While incarcerated, Blagojevich engaged in various activities, including teaching and mentoring fellow inmates, all the while maintaining his innocence. His sentence was commuted by President Trump in 2020, leading to his release. Since leaving prison, Blagojevich has sought to re-enter public life, launching a podcast, creating personalized videos, and even announcing intentions to sue the state over his removal from office. His story remains a notable chapter in discussions about political ethics, the intersection of fame and governance, and the complexities surrounding political corruption.
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Rod Blagojevich
- Born: December 10, 1956
- Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
Rod Blagojevich was the fortieth governor of Illinois and the first Democrat to hold the office in twenty-five years. His career abruptly ended with his impeachment in 2009 on charges of criminal corruption and bribery.
The Republican Party’s twenty-five-year hold on the governor’s office suggested that Ron Blagojevich, who had represented Chicago’s Fifth District in the US House of Representatives since 1997, would have little chance of success when he proposed running for governor in 2002. But with the endorsement of popular Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and a number of significant trade unions, Blagojevich was able to raise a record $25 million dollars in campaign contributions and beat out his opponent, Illinois attorney general Jim Ryan.
The beginning of Blagojevich’s first term as governor presented a whole new set of challenges. Blagojevich inherited a large budget deficit and a wide gap between Chicago’s urban economy and the rural communities that make up most of Illinois. To address the state’s economic problems, Blagojevich’s administration developed a number of proposals, including a state venture capital plan to give financial assistance to new businesses located in rural areas, a sales tax on services, licensing more casinos, and seeking more federal funding.
He won reelection in 2006 after defeating Edwin Eisendrath in the Democratic Party primary and defeating Judy Baar Topinka and Rich Whitney in the general election.
On December 9, 2008, Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested for soliciting bribes and conspiracy to commit fraud. The charges were related to the Governor’s responsibility to appoint a replacement for the US Senate seat being vacated by former Illinois senator and then US president-elect Barack Obama. According to the charges, wiretaps of phone conversations taken from Blagojevich’s office revealed an effort to offer the vacant seat to someone who could arrange a lucrative job for the governor or his wife. Blagojevich allegedly stated that he would appoint himself to the seat if an arrangement suitable to him could not be reached. The charges also included allegations that Blagojevich threatened the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune and a Chicago children’s charity. Following his arrest, calls for Blagojevich’s resignation came from Democrats and Republicans nationwide. Although Blagojevich made bail, the state house of representatives voted 117–1 to launch impeachment proceedings against him began in mid-January 2009.
On January 29, 2009, Blagojevich was convicted at his impeachment trial by a unanimous vote of 59–0 in the Illinois state senate. He was immediately succeeded as governor by Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn. In September 2009, Blagojevich published a book entitled The Governor: Finally, the Truth behind the Political Scandal That Continues to Rock the Nation. He also appeared on the reality television series The Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump.
Blagojevich’s trial began on June 10, 2010. On August 17, 2010, he was convicted of lying to FBI investigators. However, the jury was deadlocked on the remaining twenty-three corruption charges.
On June 27, 2011, a jury found Blagojevich guilty on seventeen criminal counts, including wire fraud, bribery, and corruption. The verdict ended two and a half years of legal wrangling surrounding the former governor. He filed for an acquittal or retrial on procedural grounds but lost. Blagojevich was incarcerated in Colorado in March 2012. In prison, Blagojevich became a vocalist and rock guitarist, served as law librarian, taught American history, and aided fellow inmates with interviewing and personal relationship skills; however, the model prisoner continued to maintain his innocence.
In 2015 an appellate court voided five counts against Blagojevich, but the following August, he was re-sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment. Blagojevich appealed the sentence in 2017 but was denied. During that period, Blagojevich also sought clemency, first from President Obama and later from President Trump. Trump granted him a commutation on February 18, 2020, and he was freed and returned to Chicago the same day. Several months later, he was officially disbarred.
Following his release, Blagojevich made personalized videos for the online platform Cameo and began hosting the podcast The Lightning Rod. He also campaigned for Trump's reelection. In 2021, Blagojevich announced his intention to file a lawsuit against the state of Illinois over the handling of his removal from office, stating that his civil rights were violated and his removal was unconstitutional. Blagojevich hoped this would open the door for his return to political office.
Impact
Blagojevich was a notoriously unpopular governor even prior to the breaking of the Obama Senate seat scandal. The corruption story made for an odd backdrop to the early days of Obama’s presidency, drawing unfavorable attention to the Chicago political landscape. The spotlight trained on Blagojevich afforded him a bizarre run as a pop culture reference point. He appeared as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice and performed with Chicago’s Second City improv group in a show titled Rod Blagojevich Superstar. He was repeatedly mocked on Saturday Night Live and was even offered a job with the professional wrestling company TNA Wrestling. Later, the commutation of his prison sentence proved controversial, with some criticizing the president for condoning corruption but others questioning the severity of the sentence Blagojevich had been handed and noting that he had already served a long time by then.
Bibliography
Coen, Jeff, et al. “Blagojevich Arrested; Fitzgerald Calls It a ‘Political Corruption Crime Spree.’” Chicago Tribune, 10 Dec. 2008, www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209-story.html. Accessed 23 May 2024.
Davey, Monica and Jack Healy. “Illinois Governor Charged in Scheme to Sell Obama’s Seat.” The New York Times, 9 Dec. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/politics/10Illinois.html. Accessed 23 May 2024.
Davey, Monica, and Mitch Smith. “Who Is Rod Blagojevich? Why Did President Trump Commute His Sentence?” The New York Times, 19 Feb. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/02/18/us/rod-blagojevich-sentence.html. Accessed 23 May 2024.
Pearson, Rick. “Lawsuit Filed by Disgraced Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Who Once Joked About His Legal Education, Dismissed by One Expert as Frivolous.” Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2021, www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-rod-blagojevich-lawsuit-20210806-ixoagh2q5fabzn5e7ib7mrwlma-story.html. Accessed 23 May 2024.
Queenan, Joe. “The Real Blagojevich Scandal.” The Washington Post 14 Dec. 2008: B01.
Meisner, Jason. “Convicted Ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich Officially Disbarred.” Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2020, www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-rod-blagojevich-disbarred-supreme-court-20200518-rdmvwj2akbernhg5ewqctotl5y-story.html. Accessed 23 May 2024.