Former Gov. Blagojevich Released From Prison After President Trump Commutes 'Tremendously Powerful, Ridiculous Sentence'
Ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has gone free, after President Donald Trump granted him clemency on Tuesday.
Watch CBS News
Ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has gone free, after President Donald Trump granted him clemency on Tuesday.
When all else failed, he and his wife Patti Blagojevich began what some call a direct, public plea to President Trump, hoping he'd sympathize and set Blagojevich free.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and President Donald Trump have a history going back many years – to a time well before Blagojevich went to prison and before Trump was best known as a politician.
CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller said, while Trump's clemency order reduced Blagojevich's 14-year prison sentence, it did not clear his criminal record, so he'll still be a convicted felon.
"It's important those found guilty serve their prison sentences."
Almost eight years after he left his home in Ravenswood Manor to begin serving a prison term in Colorado, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich soon will be winging his way back to Chicago, and his wife and daughters couldn't be more elated.
President Trump commuted Rod Blagojevich's 14-year prison sentence for corruption and will soon be a free man.
When Donald Trump commuted Rod Blagojevich's federal sentence on multiple corruption charges, Illinois' 40th governor was just one in a long list of crooked state chief executives.
President Trump on Tuesday commuted the corruption sentence for former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.
President Trump mentioned he was considering commuting Blagojevich's prison sentence back in August.
President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that he floated the idea of commuting former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's prison sentence just to see if it was popular.
In his one-one-one interview with Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown on Wednesday, CBS 2's Brad Edwards asked Brown to offer a word or short phrase she would use to describe 11 major political figures – most, but not all of them local.
Two balloons with "welcome home" printed on them could be seen outside the Blagojevich house Friday night, but it's not what it seems.
It could be a big break for Rod Blagojevich; President Donald Trump is "looking very seriously" at commuting the former Illinois governor's 14-year prison sentence.
"Our President's comments on Air Force One last night make us very hopeful that our almost 11 year nightmare might soon be over. We are very grateful," she wrote on Twitter.
Some of those responsible for putting former Gov. Rod Blagojevich behind bars were reacting Thursday to President Donald Trump weighing the option of commuting the former governor's sentence.
President Trump also has personally donated $7,000 to Rod Blagojevich's campaigns over the years before his conviction, and his hotel and casino organization donated another $2,000.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is not on board with President Donald Trump's idea of commuting the sentence of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
However, Comey's only tie to the Blagojevich case is a nebulous one.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he's considering commuting the sentence of imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, which would mean an early release from his 14-year- prison sentence.
While Donald Trump considers commuting Rod Blagojevich's federal sentence on multiple corruption charges, Illinois 40th governor is just part of a long list of crooked state chief executives.
Rod Blagojevich began serving his 14-year prison sentence for corruption in March of 2012. Here are five facts about the former governor:
President Donald Trump says he doesn't know former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich very well, but the imprisoned former governor and his wife clearly know how to appeal to his personal sensibilities.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday night that he is likely to commute the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
President Donald Trump on Monday issued full pardons for five convicted criminals and commuted sentences for two others.
A Chicago police officer was shot in the protective vest in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood, while officers also shot a suspected gunman, and police said a teen was shot twice.
Brandt Clarke scored twice to help Los Angeles break out of an offensive funk, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves and the Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-0 on Saturday night to split a two-game set.
His father, Rod, is an NHL great who is currently the head coach of the Wolves' affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Families who have lost loved ones serving in the U.S. military were treated to a trip to Walt Disney World.
Des Plaines police said the USPS driver claimed that he temporarily lost control of his vehicle, leading to the crash.
Two people who survived an early September U.S. attack on an alleged drug boat were waving overhead before they were killed in a now-controversial second strike, according to two sources.
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide the legality of President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship.
President Trump has led the charge to create more GOP-friendly congressional districts in the 2026 midterm elections.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is set to retire in 2026, but before he leaves Congress he is making one last attempt to pass the DREAM Act.
Former Chicago Tribune publisher and editor-in-chief R. Bruce Dold passed away this week.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
The Food and Drug Administration is warning about additional cookware brands that could be leaching lead into your food.
Walgreens said it will close its office space in Chicago's Old Post Office building.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
Two pregnant Black women recently faced alarming neglect at hospitals in Indiana and Texas, highlighting racial disparities in maternal care.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill aimed at protecting vaccine access in Illinois.
Roseland Community Hospital on Monday celebrated the opening of a new sickle cell treatment clinic.
Consumers with the imported pans should throw them away due to the severe health risks posed by lead, the agency warns.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
Small Business Saturday was disrupted by the winter storm for many business owners in Chicago, but in the Rogers Park neighborhood, a group of business owners came together to draw customers.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
A federal judge has called out an immigration enforcement agent for using artificial intelligence to write the narrative of a use-of-force report as just a small part of a scathing opinion that rebutted federal officials' narratives about appropriate force used against protesters and others during an ongoing immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Frank Gehry was known for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Netflix on Friday said it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
Starting Wednesday, riders on the Chicago Transit Authority system will hear a recognizable Chicago voice during their commutes.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
Joe Colborn, better known as Joe "JoBo" Bohannon on Chicago radio, died this week.
Barb’s Precious Rescue is holding its annual Whiskers and Wishes event in Palatine, where visitors can make lasting holiday memories with their cats or kittens. Joining us is Barb Weber, the founder of Barb’s Precious Rescue and Adoption Center.
Kierra J. Turpin, the Project Homegrown coordinator for the Berwyn Development Corporation, joins Suzanne Le Mignot to talk about the event.
A Chicago police officer was shot in the protective vest in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood, while officers also shot a suspected gunman, and police said a teen was shot twice. Asal Rezaei reports.
Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist has your 6 a.m. First Alert Weather forecast for Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
The village's tree lighting event brought plenty of holiday spirit and a Christmas parade.
A Chicago police officer was shot in the protective vest in Morgan Park, while officers also shot a suspected gunman, and police said a teen was shot twice.
A winter weather advisory will take effect overnight for the Chicago area and parts of Indiana. Here's what you can expect.
Elgin police officers were told by the agent that the crash occurred while they were conducting an enforcement activity.
Des Plaines police said the USPS driver claimed that he temporarily lost control of his vehicle, leading to the crash.
A man and a woman were charged after authorities said they buried an infant child at a home in Wilmington, Illinois, last year.
A Chicago woman battling ALS said she's been struggling just to get a disabled parking space in front of her Bridgeport home.
Days after new Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach ordered an urgent review of the county's electronic monitoring program, Sheriff Tom Dart said this crisis isn't new, and that he's been warning lawmakers of problems for years.
Charles Beach was sworn in on Monday as Cook County's first new chief judge in 24 years, and takes over amid a political firestorm over what appears to be systemic issues with how accused criminals are being monitored before trial.
Some Chicagoans found out the hard way on Monday that the overnight winter parking ban is in effect.
The electronic monitoring system in Cook County has come under increased scrutiny, after a woman was set on fire in a horrific arson attack on the Blue Line, with critics demanding answers as to why the suspect wasn't already behind bars.
Brandt Clarke scored twice to help Los Angeles break out of an offensive funk, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves and the Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-0 on Saturday night to split a two-game set.
His father, Rod, is an NHL great who is currently the head coach of the Wolves' affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and the Indiana Pacers beat the struggling Chicago Bulls 120-105 on Friday night.
Sitting in 1st-place in the NFC standings isn't the only feel-good story for the Bears, as cornerback Nahshon Wright was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Month.
The Bulls dropped to 9-12 with their fifth loss in a row.
A Chicago police officer was shot in the protective vest in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood, while officers also shot a suspected gunman, and police said a teen was shot twice.
The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy," which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg.
Authorities say the FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
A woman from Chicago's northwest suburbs appeared in court Thursday for a shooting that killed another woman in the South Loop in September.
The man charged with pushing a CTA passenger onto the tracks at a Blue Line station in Chicago's western suburbs on Monday was ordered held in jail, after repeatedly interrupting the judge and prosecutors during his first court appearance on Wednesday.
