Rod Blagojevich facts for kids

Rod Blagojevich
Quick facts for kids Rod Blagojevich
40th Governor of Illinois
	In office; January 13, 2003 – January 29, 2009
Lieutenant	Pat Quinn
Preceded by	George Ryan
Succeeded by	Pat Quinn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Illinois's 5th district
	In office; January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Michael Patrick Flanagan
Succeeded by	Rahm Emanuel
Personal details
Born	Rod Blagojevich ; December 10, 1956 (age 65); Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Patricia Mell Blagojevich
Children	Amy Blagojevich; Anne Blagojevich
Residence	Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood, Jefferson County, Colorado
Alma mater	Northwestern University (B.A.); Pepperdine University (J.D.)
Profession	Lawyer; Prosecutor
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Rod R. Blagojevich (born December 10, 1956) was 40th Governor of Illinois beginning January 13, 2003 and ending January 29, 2009. He succeeded George Ryan, who would also be arrested for non-related charges. Blagojevich was the first Governor of Illinois to be impeached while in office and the first Democratic politician in over 25 years to face such charges.

Early life

Blagojevich was born in Chicago, Illinois, the second of four children. His father, Radislav, was an immigrant steel plant laborer from a village near Kragujevac, Serbia. Blagojevich graduated from Chicago's Foreman High School after transferring from Lane Technical High School. He began boxing at a young age.

Governor of Illinois

During 2002, Blagojevich campaigned for his party's nomination to become governor. Blagojevich won a close primary campaign against former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris and Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas, who ran well in the suburban collar counties of Chicago. Blagojevich finished strongly in Southern Illinois, winning 55% of the primary vote downstate, enough to win a primary victory by a thin margin.

In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Topinka and the Green Party's Rich Whitney, outspending Topinka $27 million to $6 million. He attempted to tie Topinka to former Republican governor George Ryan's corruption. Blagojevich won re-election.

Arrest and conviction

He was arrested in December of 2008 on federal corruption charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Blagojevich was later impeached during January 2009, convicted and removed from office on January 29, 2009. On December 7, 2011, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. He is held at Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood in Jefferson County, Colorado.

On May 31, 2018, President Donald Trump, soon after having pardoned commentator Dinesh D'Souza, told reporters that he was considering reducing Blagojevich's sentence (without pardoning him). Trump called Blagojevich's 14-year sentence "unfair", saying that Blagojevich's statements about enriching himself were "stupid", but also the sort of thing "that many other politicians say".

Personal life

Blagojevich has been married to Patricia Mell Blagojevich. They have two children. His family owns a home in Ravenswood, Chicago, but live in Jefferson County, Colorado because of Blagojevich's prison stay.

Images for kids

Quincy mayor John Spring appears at a press conference with Blagojevich to discuss Mississippi River flood-relief efforts in 2008.
Blagojevich with then Congressman, now Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago) advocating for changes in Medicare legislation.
Blagojevich greets students at Illinois State University in 2006
U.S. Marshals photo of Blagojevich on the day of his arrest
FCI Englewood, where Blagojevich is located