President Trump Pardons ‘Blago,’ Former Illinois Governor Could Return to Politics

Posted on: February 11, 2025, 10:24h. 

Last updated on: February 11, 2025, 10:47h.

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  • President Donald Trump pardoned disgraced politician Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor of Illinois
  • Blagojevich was convicted of selling Barack Obama’s US Senate seat after winning the 2008 presidential election
  • With his criminal record wiped clean, Blago could mull a political comeback

On Monday, President Donald Trump pardoned disgraced politician Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor of Illinois who was convicted of selling the state’s US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama after he won the 2008 presidential election.

Trump Blagojevich pardon Illinois Obama
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich exits the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Aug. 2, 2021. President Donald Trump commuted Blago’s 14-year prison sentence in 2020 and this week issued a full pardon to the man convicted of selling Barack Obama’s US Senate seat. (Image: Getty)

Trump’s pardon delivered a nice return for political bettors who wagered money on a Blagojevich immunity decree. On the peer-to-peer wagering platform Kalshi, shares of a Blagojevich pardon were trading last week for just eight cents. They’ve since been redeemed at a dollar each.

Trump called Blagojevich’s federal incarceration a “terrible injustice” and labeled the former Illinois governor “a nice man.” He said it was his “honor” to issue the pardon.

After Obama made history by becoming the first African-American to become commander-in-chief, “Blago,” as Blagojevich was nicknamed by the press, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2009 on two dozen charges related to his trying to seek money in exchange for Obama’s Senate seat. As governor, Blagojevich could singlehandedly appoint a person to the US Senate after Obama assumed the presidency.

In June 2011, Blagojevich was found guilty on 17 charges, including public corruption, wire fraud, attempted extortion, soliciting bribes, and conspiracy to commit, solicit, and accept bribes. Blago was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. 

The Odd Couple 

Blagojevich, a Democrat, and Trump, a MAGA Republican, are rather odd friends in the political arena. Trump has known Blago for many years, as the politician appeared on season nine of Trump’s reality TV show “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2010. He was “fired” in week four.

At the end of his first term in 2020, Trump commuted Blagojevich’s sentence. The president said at the time that Blago’s prosecution was not unlike his own, in which he alleged federal authorities wrongly investigated ties between Russia and his 2016 campaign.

Trump’s commuting of his 14-year sentence made Blago a free man. His pardon this week wipes the criminal conviction from his record and possibly clears the way for Blagojevich to return to politics.

He was set up by a lot of bad people, some of the same people I had to deal with,” Trump said at the White House as he signed the pardon.

Blagojevich said he’ll “always be profoundly grateful to President Trump.” He added that he has “everlasting gratitude” for “a great guy.”

Political Return?

With his record cleared, at least in the eyes of the court, Blago could mull a return to politics.

The Chicago mayor’s office could be attractive, as current Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) popularity rating continues to sink. The latest poll from the Illinois Policy Institute found that just 14% of Chicagoans have a favorable view of Johnson while 80% have an unfavorable opinion.

Outside his home in Chicago on Monday, Blago seemingly hinted about a political comeback.

I want to say to the people of Illinois two things: Number one, I never raised your taxes. Number two, I didn’t do it,” Blago declared. “It’s all political talk.”

Kalshi bettors think there’s a 12% chance that Johnson won’t be Chicago’s mayor by the end of the year. If Blago regains an elected position, it would be a similar comeback to Trump, whose political career was once seemingly finished after the events of Jan. 6, 2021.