Rod Blagojevich Asks for Presidential Commutation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Will President Obama do a solid on his way out the White House door for disgraced Rod Blagojevich and let him out of prison early? The former Illinois governor officially has requested a presidential commutation.

The Department of Justice confirmed a petition for commutation of Blagojevich's 14-year prison sentence was filed. The commutation is not likely, however.

The FBI caught Blagojevich in 2008 on wiretaps trying to peddle his appointment of Obama's U.S. Senate successor for cash or a job: "I've got this thing and it's f---ing golden." After a trial on federal corruption charges, he was found guilty and sentenced in 2011. His defense — this haggling was just politics as usual.

Blagojevich's appeal resulted in five of his 18 convictions being overturned, but this past August the judge kept the 14-year prison sentence in place. Blagojevich wept when his daughters spoke at the sentencing hearing about the loss of their father.

"I regret those mistakes and judgments," Blagojevich told the court. "And I'm sorry. I wish I could find a way to turn the clock back."

Blagojevich served as governor from 2003 to 2009, when he was impeached and removed from office. Obama was a state senator when Blagojevich was elected governor.

• Also on Patch: Obama's Farewell Speech Will Be in Chicago

If Obama refuses to consider Blagojevich's request for commutation (after all, Blagojevich did call the president a "mother------" on one of those wiretaps), he might still find favor in the courts. Blagojevich is seeking another resentencing, according to a filing this week in federal appeals court.

And if the appeals court refuses to throw out his 14-year sentence and grant him a new hearing, he could try for a commutation at the hands of the next president.

Blagojevich rubbed elbows with Donald Trump in 2010, before heading to prison in Colorado, as a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice." Alas, Trump fired the ex-governor after he bumbled his way through several challenges.

Perhaps President Trump will show mercy if he again gets a chance to sit in judgment of the ex-governor.

photos: official White House photo; federal prison mugshot