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Portrait of Rod Blagojevich

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Born in United States · Nationality American — Politics / Illinois / governance / public corruption / federal justice

Rod Blagojevich

Politics and government

Documented profile covering 13 controversies, including “Full presidential pardon” and “Sentence commuted by Donald Trump”.

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Profile No. 2716 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Rod Blagojevich

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
13Documented controversies+ 4 background events
6Sources
1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 8 documented stages

Full presidential pardon

Conviction
01

10 February 2025

Full presidential pardon

Conviction

Donald Trump granted Blagojevich a full presidential pardon for the federal offences that had resulted in his 168-month sentence.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Office of the Pardon AttorneyClemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present)Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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02

18 February 2020

Sentence commuted by Donald Trump

Conviction

President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich's prison sentence in February 2020, allowing his early release.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & ArchivesBLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.Official documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Office of the Pardon AttorneyClemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present)Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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04

2016–21 April 2017

Fourteen-year sentence reimposed and upheld on appeal

Conviction

After prosecutors dropped the five overturned counts, the court reimposed a sentence of 168 months on the thirteen remaining counts; the Seventh Circuit upheld the sentence in 2017.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Blagojevich, No. 16-3254Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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05

21 July 2015

2015 appeal: five counts overturned, remaining convictions upheld

Conviction

The Seventh Circuit overturned five counts, notably because of a legal distinction concerning political appointments, but upheld the remaining convictions and remanded the case for resentencing.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Blagojevich, No. 11-3853Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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06

June 2011

Second trial: further corruption convictions

Conviction

At the second trial, Blagojevich was found guilty on several additional counts of wire fraud, extortion, solicitation of bribes and conspiracies linked to his exercise of public office.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Blagojevich, No. 11-3853Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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07

7 December 2011

Sentenced to 168 months' imprisonment

Conviction

The federal court sentenced Blagojevich to 168 months' imprisonment, equivalent to 14 years, and imposed a fine.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Office of the Pardon AttorneyClemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present)Official documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Blagojevich, No. 16-3254Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

August 2010

First trial: convicted of making false statement; jury deadlocked on 23 other counts

Conviction

At his first federal trial, the jury convicted Blagojevich of making a false statement to the FBI but failed to reach a unanimous verdict on the other 23 counts.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ABC NewsRod Blagojevich Guilty on One Count, Jury Deadlocks on 23PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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11

9 December 2008

Federal arrest and allegations of attempting to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat

Formally charged

Following Barack Obama's election as president, federal wiretaps documented Blagojevich's discussions about appointing his successor to the Senate; he was arrested in December 2008 during a corruption investigation.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / JustiaUnited States v. Blagojevich, No. 11-3853Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

18 May 2020

Disbarment in Illinois

Civil / administrative proceedings

The Illinois Supreme Court disbarred Blagojevich following his federal convictions; he had already been temporarily suspended since 2011.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Illinois State Bar AssociationIllinois Supreme Court disbars 4, suspends 7 in latest disciplinary filingVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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09

9 January 2009

Impeachment by Illinois House

Civil / administrative proceedings

The Illinois House of Representatives voted to impeach Blagojevich while he was governor.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & ArchivesBLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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10

29 January 2009

Removal from office and disqualification from holding Illinois public office

No legal proceedings

The Illinois Senate removed him from office as governor and disqualified him from holding any further public office in the state.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & ArchivesBLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

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12

1997–2003

Service in US House of Representatives

No legal proceedings

Blagojevich represented Illinois in the US House of Representatives for three terms, from 3 January 1997 to 3 January 2003.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & ArchivesBLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

Add to this entry

13

1986–1988

Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County

No legal proceedings

Blagojevich worked as an assistant state's attorney in Cook County.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & ArchivesBLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 18 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

  1. 2006

    Re-elected Governor

    Blagojevich won a second term as governor in 2006.

    Sources · 1
    1. U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives — BLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.
  2. 2002–2003

    Elected Governor of Illinois

    Blagojevich was elected Governor of Illinois in 2002 and left the US House to take office in January 2003.

    Sources · 1
    1. U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives — BLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.
  3. 1992–1996

    Elected to Illinois House of Representatives

    Blagojevich served in the Illinois House of Representatives before entering the US Congress.

    Sources · 1
    1. U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives — BLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.
  4. 1975–1986

    Legal education and early career in law

    Blagojevich received a BA from Northwestern University in 1979 and a JD from Pepperdine University in 1983, then practised law.

    Sources · 1
    1. U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives — BLAGOJEVICH, Rod R.

III. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)
  1. Donald Trump2 documented references
  2. Barack Obama1 documented reference
  3. J.B. Pritzker1 documented reference

IV. Has something changed?

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