Remember Rob Blagojevich? He was the two term Democratic Governor of the Great State of Illinois, known best for his “mop-top, Davey Jones” hair. Besides being the Chief Executive of the home of Lincoln, he joined in a great Illinois political tradition: he’s in jail.
An Illinois Tradition
Some of his fellow Governors spent time for more “exotic” charges, like Dan Walker who in his post political career was convicted for bank fraud. And, of course, Illinois political leaders going to jail is a bipartisan phenomenon. Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert served time for bank regulations violations. It was really about paying hush money to an athlete he molested as a high school coach.
But Blagojevich’s corruption was pretty much straight forward; he traded influence for money while in office. In fact, he tried to sell the US Senate seat vacated by newly elected President Barack Obama to the highest bidder. For that, he was impeached and removed by the Illinois legislature. So the former Governor went on a publicity tour.
From Letterman to the Daily Show, Blagojevich proclaimed his innocence. He also developed a “celebrity” career, starting a two-hour weekly radio show. And, he made a fateful appearance of the 9th season of Celebrity Apprentice, where he earned high praise from host Donald Trump. That was right before he was fired in the fourth episode.
The US Attorney for Northern Illinois wasn’t impressed by the notoriety, and charged the former Governor with 24 Federal charges of corruption. It took two trials, the first ending in a mistrial, to convict him on 17 charges. Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in Federal prison. He is now held in a minimum-security facility in Englewood, Colorado, just outside of Denver.
Ask the President
This week President Donald Trump “tweeted” that he is considering commuting the former Governor’s sentence. It’s been seven years in jail, and Trump’s famous “many people” asked him to look into ending his prison term.
Trump told reporters that Blagojevich was imprisoned “…over a phone call were nothing happens,” and that he “…shouldn’t have said what he said, but it was braggadocio.” The Governor was recorded on a wiretap asking for money in exchange for appointment to the Senate seat.
But it makes sense that Trump would relate to Blagojevich’s fate. Both Trump and “Blago” are “media” politicians, using their personal charms to speak directly to voters. They also both have penchant for strong language, with “Blago” stating about the Senate vacancy: “I’ve got this thing, and it’s f**king golden. And I’m just not giving it up for f**king nothing.”
The President knows what it’s like to hear his own voice on secret recordings.
And, of course, they both are known for their hair. But what cuts closest to the bone for the President, is that “Blago” tried to use his office to financially enhance himself. That’s something the President can directly relate to. He continue to receive profits from the various Trump properties benefitting from his Presidency. Who knows if that might be considered corrupt by some future Administration.
Perhaps Mr. Trump is trying to establish some kind of precedent. Corruption is office isn’t such a big deal, as the President said: “being stupid, saying things that every other politician, you know, that many other politicians say.”
It’s About the FBI
The President also took the opportunity to criticize the FBI and Justice Department officials who prosecuted Blagojevich, saying “…And it was the same gang — the (James Comey) gang and the — all these sleazebags — that did it.” That actually isn’t quite true; Comey was in private practice and wasn’t with the FBI or Justice Department at the time of the prosecution. But we get why the President might be sensitive to investigations.
And finally, Trump clearly admires something that Blagojevich has.
“I’m very impressed with his wife,” he said. “She’s one hell of a woman.”
Don’t be surprised to see Rob Blagojevich released from custody soon. Maybe he’ll be back on television, perhaps a Celebrity Apprentice reunion show after Trump leaves office. Or maybe sooner, surely the President would have time to record one while still President. We’ll see.
Blago’s wife, too, was a reality TV star: In 2009, after Blago was removed as Governor of Illinois, Patti Blagojevich appeared as a contestant on the NBC reality show, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here. She placed fourth on the show. Birds of a feather, flock together.