CNN
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Here’s a look back at the life of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who served eight years in federal prison.
date of birth: 10 December 1956
birth place: Chicago, Illinois
birth name: Rod Blagojevich (no middle name, uses initial R to honor his father)
Father: Rad Blagojevich, Steelworker
Mother: Milli (Govedarika) Blagojevich
marriage: Patricia (Male) Blagojevich (1990–present)
children: Anne and Amy
Education: Northwestern University, BA, 1979; Pepperdine University, JD, 1983
The last name is pronounced blu-go-uh-wich.
His father was a prisoner of war for four years in a Nazi camp. second World War.
1986-1988 , Assistant State Counsel in Cook County, Illinois.
1992-1996 , Serves in the Illinois House, representing the 33rd district.
1996-2002 , US Representative from the 5th District of Illinois.
November 2002 , Became the first Democrat elected governor of Illinois in 30 years.
13 January 2003 , Sworn in as the 40th Governor of Illinois.
January 8, 2007 , Sworn in for a second term as governor of Illinois.
December 9, 2008 , He has been taken into federal custody on corruption charges. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and soliciting bribes. Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, have been charged with “conspiracy to obtain personal financial gain” by taking advantage of their authority to replace a US senator. Elected President Barack Obama.
December 30, 2008 , Blagojevich appoints former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill the Senate seat vacated by Obama.
January 9, 2009 , The Illinois House of Representatives voted to impeach Blagojevich. The vote is 114-1.
26 January 2009 , indictment Hearings begin in the Illinois Senate. Blagojevich does not appear, instead “chooses to appear at”larry king Live,” “The View,” and “Good Morning America.”
29 January 2009 , Illinois Senate unanimous vote Blagojevich and prevent him from taking up political office in Illinois again.
2 April 2009 , Indicted on 16 felony counts by a federal grand jury.
14 April 2009 , Blagojevich pleads not guilty.
13 June 2009 , Appears in the Chicago comedy show “Rod Blagojevich Superstar”.
8 September 2009 , Blagojevich’s autobiography “The Governor” has been published.
2010 – Appears as a contestant in four episodes The “Celebrity Apprentice” reality TV show K.
3 June 2010 , Blagojevich’s trial on corruption charges begins.
17 August 2010 , jury in Blagojevich’s trial returned its verdict After 14 days of deliberation. He has been found guilty of making false statements to federal investigators. The jury is unable to decide in 23 other cases.
February 24, 2011 , A federal judge dropped three of 23 corruption charges against Blagojevich.
2 May 2011 , Blagojevich’s trial begins again.
June 27, 2011 , comes back with the jury 17 guilty verdicts, One is not guilty and two counts standoff.
25 July 2011 , Blagojevich files a 158-page motion requesting an acquittal or a new trial, citing fundamentally unfair proceedings.
7 December 2011 , Sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
15 March 2012 , report to Englewood Federal Correctional Institute To begin serving a 14-year sentence in Colorado.
July 15, 2013 — Blagojevich’s lawyers appealed his sentence in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, claiming that the trial judge failed to convince jurors that “making a political deal” might be legal and that “between campaign contributions and Misleading the jury by failing to explain the legal difference. Bribery.”
21 July 2015 – The 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned five counts against Blagojevich, saying prosecutors could not prove he broke the law by trying to sell Obama’s old Senate seat.
19 August 2015 – The 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals declined to hear Blagojevich again. Blagojevich will now ask US Supreme Court To reverse his remaining conviction and sentence.
30 March 2016 – Two days after the Supreme Court declined to hear Blagojevich’s appeal, federal prosecutors filed a motion asking a US district judge to set a displeasure date for the former governor. Prosecutors will not retry Blagojevich on five charges that were overturned by the appeals court.
9 August 2016 – US District Judge James Jagel imposed The same 14-year sentence against Blagojevich, despite pleas of shorter duration.
September 11, 2017 – Blagojevich’s first interview since being sent to prison is published Chicago Magazine,
November 3, 2017 – Blagojevich submits to the US Supreme Court his sentence and a second request to overturn the sentence. This comes after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his request for a re-hearing earlier this year.
5 June 2018 – Files clemency paperworkofficially asking President Donald Trump to reduce his prison sentence. This step comes a few days later Trump told reporters he was considering reducing Blagojevich’s sentence.
12 July 2019 – Rev. Jesse Jackson Signs a letter encouraging Trump to grant Blagojevich a full pardon.
August 7, 2019 – Trump told reporters He wants Blagojevich’s sentence to be commuted because the former governor was treated “incredibly unfairly.” The next day Trump tweeted that White House staff were reviewing it regularly.possibility of commutingBlagojevich’s punishment.
February 18, 2020 – Trump announces he has commuted Blagojevich’s prison sentence, and Blagojevich has been released after serving eight years of a 14-year sentence.
May 14, 2020 – Blagojevich’s podcast “Lightning-conductor“Debut.
May 18, 2020 – The Illinois Supreme Court has rejected this.
November 5, 2021 – “Being Blago,” a four-part documentary, has been released on Hulu.
00:30 – Source: CNN
Blagojevich: Trump didn’t have to
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