Encore! Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Says He’s Still Not Guilty!
Today's guest is Rod Blagojevich, the former American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party.
Blagojevich's political career was marked by controversy and scandal. He was arrested, impeached and then convicted on multiple counts of corruption, including wire fraud and extortion. After 2 trials, He was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison in 2011.
After serving nearly eight years in prison, his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump in February 2020, and he was released. Blagojevich's case remains a subject of controversy and debate, questioning whether or not he is a symbol of political corruption and the abuse of power, or is he someone who was failed by a corrupt system.
He discusses the political stories of the day, the current state of the Democratic Party and on Trump's chances for re-election. We talk about his life before politics, how he got into it and where it took a wrong turn.
He candidly opens up about his life in jail, what it was like to finally have a chance at freedom again, and what, if anything, he plans to do to reverse his narrative. Like him or hate him, this is hands down one of our most fascinating and in depth interviews thus far.
Episode Chapters:
Here are the YouTube chapters continuing from minute 45 and onward based on the transcript:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
**00:05:00** - New Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson
**00:10:00** - Trump’s Codefendants and Plea Deals
**00:15:00** - Rudy Giuliani’s Path Forward
**00:20:00** - Michael Cohen’s Credibility
**00:25:00** - Mass Shooting in Lewiston, Maine
**00:30:00** - Blagojevich’s Views on Gun Control
**00:35:00** - Life Before Politics
**00:40:00** - Experiences in Jail and Post-Prison
**00:45:00** - Blagojevich on Connecting with Voters
**00:50:00** - Impact of Political Experience on Governance
**00:55:00** - Blagojevich’s Election Campaigns
**01:00:00** - Reflections on Legal Battles
**01:05:00** - Prison Life: Daily Routine and Jobs
**01:10:00** - Navigating Prison Hierarchy
**01:15:00** - Legal Appeals and Hope for Justice
**01:20:00** - Media Attention and First Night in Prison
**01:25:00** - Living with Purpose in Prison
**01:30:00** - Plans for Post-Prison Life and Final Thoughts
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