Illinois’ imprisoned ex-governor, Rod Blagojevich, has filed paperwork asking President Donald Trump to commute his 14-year prison term for corruption that included seeking to sell an appointment to the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president.
A spokesman for Blagojevich’s lawyers told the Chicago Tribune it was submitted Tuesday to the Department of Justice. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the paperwork is a formality and that Trump doesn’t necessarily require it to act.
Trump last week broached the possibility of freeing the 61-year-old, suggesting the one-time “Celebrity Apprentice” contestant was convicted for “being stupid.” But many Illinois voters regarded Blagojevich’s corruption as brazen. His convictions included attempting to extort a children’s hospital.
Blagojevich’s wife, Patti, recently went on a media blitz to encourage Trump to intervene to reduce her husband’s sentence.
