Watch CBS News
Blagojevich was originally sentenced to 14 years in prison in December 2011 on 18 corruption charges, including attempting to sell Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. As Jermont Terry reports, President Trump commuted Blagojevich's sentence in 2020 and pardoned him on Monday.
Blagojevich maintains he never broke the law despite being convicted of trying to sell President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat.
Blagojevich was expected to address the pardon later Monday night.
President Trump has officially issued the pardon to the former governor since this report by Political Investigator Chris Tye first ran.
Blagojevich was commuted after serving nearly eight of his 14-year sentence in February 2020, during President Trump's first presidency.
Three years after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban on him ever running for state or local office again, a federal judge issued a blistering ruling on Thursday, quoting Dr. Seuss in telling Blagojevich to "go away."
"The simple reality is that federal courts have no role to play when it comes to a state impeachment," Judge Steven Seeger said.
The Georgia case is the first time the RICO Act -- in this case under Georgia state law rather than federal law -- is being used in the prosecution of a former U.S. president.
CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller said Wednesday that the indictment of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is a much bigger deal than the indictment and conviction of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was granted early release from supervision on Tuesday.
Three months after he returned home from prison, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has lost his license to practice law, after the Illinois Supreme Court officially disbarred him on Monday.
Chicago attorney Ed Genson has died after a long battle with cancer.
The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission on Tuesday recommended that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich be disbarred.
CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov sat down with Blagojevich this week. They talked for almost 50 minutes.
A week after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was released from prison, the state agency that regulates attorneys took a key step to prevent him from ever practicing law again in Illinois.
For nearly two years, the wife of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich made Trump's own travails the centerpiece of the strategy to free her husband.
Could Rod Blagojevich's sentence commutation threaten efforts to bring other politicians to justice?
"Through all channels, through all connections, that anyone had, we just could not get answers to those petitions."
"From beginning to end, this was persecution masquerading as prosecution," Blagojevich said a day after his early release from prison.
From the investigation that started in the early 2000s to his release from federal prison Tuesday, taxpayers have been on the hook for nearly two decades worth expenses involved with prosecuting a former governor.
For the next two years, Blagojevich must regularly report to a probation officer, and can't leave Illinois without the permission of his probation officer or a judge.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his wife Patti are expected to address the public outside of their house Wednesday.
As he prepared to get on a flight back to Chicago Tuesday night, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for commuting his 14-year prison sentence.
At least one person who was close to Blagojevich's case did not agree that releasing him was an act of justice.
Ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has gone free, after President Donald Trump granted him clemency on Tuesday.
The Mendez family is suing the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, accusing officers of violating their civil rights and traumatizing them and their children during the raid.
Randle El won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the south suburbanite is known by a lot of folks in these parts as a three-sport star at Thornton Township High School.
Bedard is eligible for a rookie contract extension this summer.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said the fencing is precautionary, and will only be up through the weekend.
With new Head Coach Tyler Marsh standing by, she and fellow Sky draft picks Maddy Westbeld and Aicha Coulibaly were formally introduced.
A Wisconsin Elections Commission discussion of uncounted ballots in Madison devolved into a shouting match, with the Democratic chair threatening to kick a Republican commissioner out of the meeting.
Activists for immigrant rights gathered at Federal Plaza in Chicago on Thursday morning to prepare for a protest rally and march next month.
Victims can now file civil lawsuits against rule-breaking tow operators, and police will have the ability to tow away and impound predatory companies' tow trucks.
Judge James Boasberg said the Trump administration "demonstrated a willful disregard" for his court order blocking the government from transferring Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun unveiled the order as part of his "Make Indiana Healthy Again" initiative on Tuesday.
The iconic Chicago chain known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches launched its brand new breakfast offerings in five restaurants Tuesday morning.
The application website is expected to open this summer.
Johnsonville, LCC is recalling over 22,600 pounds of cheddar bratwurst in 10 states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The law firms Romanucci and Blandin, representing the families of Antoine Lewis, 39, of Chicago, and Mark Lindquist Law, representing Darcy Belanger, 46, of Denver, Colorado, announced the settlement was reached on Sunday night.
A Mega Millions lottery ticket that contained all the winning numbers — bought along the western edge of the Chicago metro area, in DeKalb County — has made someone in Illinois $344 million richer this week.
Some states want to block SNAP recipients from using benefits to buy sugary foods as part of the "make America healthy again" movement.
The CDC is now struggling to keep up with requests for support from states with measles outbreaks.
CDC experts were not made available to discuss the findings showing a rise in autism prevalence.
Doctors and the Illinois Department of Public Health are urging people to get vaccinated.
Multiple FDA labs were cut amid Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s layoffs this week.
The owner of Timeless Toys said he was forced to buy $200,000 worth of toys due to the trade war between the world's two largest economies.
Tinaglia said he supports a new Bears stadium in Arlington Heights, but the franchise and the village need to come to an agreement on common goals.
The Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward a Catholic charitable organization pushing back against the state of Wisconsin in the latest religious rights case to come before the court.
Notably in St. Louis, hometown company Anheuser-Busch ended a 30-year partnership. Bud Light is also a top sponsor of Chicago pride events — and there may be a change there too.
Singleton will be the first to tell you her success is not a solo act.
"Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" star Eric Dane said he is still able to work and will return to the HBO drama.
Jay North, who starred on TV's "Dennis the Menace" for four seasons starting in 1959, has died.
Nintendo has announced a June 5 launch date for its latest gaming console, the Switch 2.
A unique talent, Val Kilmer was praised as an acting chameleon who took on varied and challenging roles, and the results were often memorable.
Lollapalooza announced the daily lineup for the 2025 festival in Grant Park July 31 through Aug. 3. Tickets are going fast.
Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon has your 10 p.m. First Alert Weather forecast for Thursday, April 17, 2025.
The Mendez family is suing the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, accusing officers of violating their civil rights and traumatizing them and their children during the raid. Dave Savini reports.
The mass is meant to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus before his arrest and crucifixion.
Kevin Patel was shot in the chest and killed on Lill Avenue Wednesday night. Marissa Sulek reports.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said the fencing at the Streeterville space is precautionary, and will only be up through the weekend.
Chicago Police said officers responded to a call of a person shot around 10:12 p.m. in the 800 block of West Lill Avenue.
Tallahassee police say the Florida State University campus has been secured after an active shooting situation.
The Mendez family is suing the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, accusing officers of violating their civil rights and traumatizing them and their children during the raid.
Adam Erkan, 20, of Hoffman Estates, has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of hate crime.
Randle El won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the south suburbanite is known by a lot of folks in these parts as a three-sport star at Thornton Township High School.
The Mendez family is suing the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, accusing officers of violating their civil rights and traumatizing them and their children during the raid.
A license plate connected to a New York grandmother is linked to speeding and running red lights in Chicago. But that license plate was destroyed years ago.
The bigger picture remains how city leaders want to tackle such teen takeovers as the weather warms up heading into summer.
Robin McElroy paid her property tax bills on time for more than a decade, only to be told her home had been "sold for delinquent taxes."
"You can outrun the police in certain circumstances. We terminate pursuits for safety reasons. But you can't outrun technology," Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said.
Randle El won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the south suburbanite is known by a lot of folks in these parts as a three-sport star at Thornton Township High School.
Bedard is eligible for a rookie contract extension this summer.
With new Head Coach Tyler Marsh standing by, she and fellow Sky draft picks Maddy Westbeld and Aicha Coulibaly were formally introduced.
Fans are understandably fed up, but it's business as usual for the lukewarm front office.
Indiana House Bill 1292 creates a professional sports development commission, which would develop a plan and recommendations for attracting a professional sports franchise to Northwest Indiana.
Statistics from Chicago Police show shootings are down, and research from Northwestern University indicates that violence interrupters are partially to credit.
Law enforcement said the suspected shooter is the 20-year-old son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy and a student at FSU.
Police found a 28-year-old man on the sidewalk on Lill Avenue.
Treyvon Winfield, 18, was near his car at 115th and Morgan streets around 8 p.m. Tuesday, when a man came up and started shooting.
Police said the shooting happened in a train car, but did not immediately provide further information.
