PresidentDonald Trumpon Tuesday confirmed he had commuted the sentence of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, something he had been considering publicly for nearly two years.Blagojevich, 63, was in his eighth yearof a 14-year federal prison sentenceon several convictions relatedto abuse of his political power— including infamously dangling an appointment to a vacant U.S. Senate seat in exchange for campaign money. (The vacancy was created whenBarack Obamalaunched his 2008 presidential campaign.) He was also found guilty of trying to extort a children’s hospital.The president’s grant of clemency will free Blagojevich, who appeared onThe Celebrity Apprenticein early 2010 after he had already been arrested and indicted and was awaiting trial.Though Blagojevich was eliminated from the season, Trump, 73,told himat the time, “You have a hell of a lot of guts.”“He served eight years in jail, a long time,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “He seems like a very nice person.”President Donald Trump (left) and Rod Blagojevich.Drew Angerer/Getty ; M Spencer Green/AP/Shutterstock;Rod Blagojevich on the set of the live final episode ofCelebrity Apprenticein 2010.Bill Tompkins/GettyIn a statement, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said that “during his confinement, Mr. Blagojevich has demonstrated exemplary character, devoting himself to improving the lives of his fellow prisoners.”Grisham also said that “people from across the political spectrum and from varied backgrounds have expressed support for shortening Mr. Blagojevich’s sentence.”Last August, after President Trump again mentioned he might intervene in Blagojevich’s case, the Illinois Republican Party chairman spoke out against freeing Blagojevich,according to the Associated Press. The state’s conservative lawmakers also disagreed with commutation.Blagojevich’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.According to reports, Blagojevich had joined a prison band while behind bars and his hair — once conspicuously coiffed and deep black — had gone white from lack of hair dye.“I caused it all,” he saidat his 2011 sentencing. “I’m not blaming anyone. I was the governor, and I should have known better. I am just so incredibly sorry.”Still, he continued to fight for his freedom and he seemed to shrug off the taint of his crimes. Ina 2017 cover storyinChicagomagazine, he said he hoped for a “second act.”“It is a hard and unhappy experience [in prison],” he said then. “My life has been brought to ruin. I live in exile.”
PresidentDonald Trumpon Tuesday confirmed he had commuted the sentence of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, something he had been considering publicly for nearly two years.
Blagojevich, 63, was in his eighth yearof a 14-year federal prison sentenceon several convictions relatedto abuse of his political power— including infamously dangling an appointment to a vacant U.S. Senate seat in exchange for campaign money. (The vacancy was created whenBarack Obamalaunched his 2008 presidential campaign.) He was also found guilty of trying to extort a children’s hospital.
The president’s grant of clemency will free Blagojevich, who appeared onThe Celebrity Apprenticein early 2010 after he had already been arrested and indicted and was awaiting trial.
Though Blagojevich was eliminated from the season, Trump, 73,told himat the time, “You have a hell of a lot of guts.”
“He served eight years in jail, a long time,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “He seems like a very nice person.”
President Donald Trump (left) and Rod Blagojevich.Drew Angerer/Getty ; M Spencer Green/AP/Shutterstock;
Rod Blagojevich on the set of the live final episode ofCelebrity Apprenticein 2010.Bill Tompkins/Getty
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said that “during his confinement, Mr. Blagojevich has demonstrated exemplary character, devoting himself to improving the lives of his fellow prisoners.”
Grisham also said that “people from across the political spectrum and from varied backgrounds have expressed support for shortening Mr. Blagojevich’s sentence.”
Last August, after President Trump again mentioned he might intervene in Blagojevich’s case, the Illinois Republican Party chairman spoke out against freeing Blagojevich,according to the Associated Press. The state’s conservative lawmakers also disagreed with commutation.
Blagojevich’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to reports, Blagojevich had joined a prison band while behind bars and his hair — once conspicuously coiffed and deep black — had gone white from lack of hair dye.
“I caused it all,” he saidat his 2011 sentencing. “I’m not blaming anyone. I was the governor, and I should have known better. I am just so incredibly sorry.”
Still, he continued to fight for his freedom and he seemed to shrug off the taint of his crimes. Ina 2017 cover storyinChicagomagazine, he said he hoped for a “second act.”
“It is a hard and unhappy experience [in prison],” he said then. “My life has been brought to ruin. I live in exile.”
source: people.com
