Blagojevich Sues So He Can Run In Future Illinois Elections

CHICAGO — Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich filed a lawsuit Monday challenging an Illinois Senate resolution that would stop him from running for state or local office after his 2011 federal convictions.

Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison and served about 8 years before then-President Donald Trump commuted his sentence in February 2020. While the commutation does not undo Blagojevich's convictions, an appellate court tossed five of his 18 convictions in 2015.

Federal prosecutors accused Blagojevich of attempting to sell then-President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, shaking down the CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital for $25,000 in campaign funds and holding up a bill to benefit the racetrack industry in hopes of receiving $100,000 in campaign contributions.

The lawsuit seeks a declaration finding that the state Senate's resolution preventing him from running for office in Illinois is unconstitutional. The former governor told reporters he wasn't sure if he even wants to run for office again, but is seeking the injunction regardless.

"I don't like this place," Blagojevich said of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. "I only have unhappy memories associated with this building."

Despite the Illinois Supreme Court stripping Blagojevich of his law license in 2020, he will be representing himself in the lawsuit.

"Allowing voters [to] decide who to vote for or not to vote for is not adverse to the public interest," the lawsuit states.