Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich is an American former politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 until his impeachment, conviction, and removal from office in 2009.

A Democrat, Blagojevich was a state representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago. He was elected governor in 2002, the first Democrat to win the office since Dan Walker’s victory 30 years earlier, and won reelection to a second term in 2006. Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office for corruption; he solicited bribes for political appointments, including Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat after Obama was elected president in 2008. Blagojevich was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.

Source: @csmonitor.com

Who are the parents of Rod Blagojevich?

Recalling his early life, Rod Blagojevich was born to Radislav and Mila Govedarica in Chicago, Illinois. He is American by nationality and belongs to mixed ethnicity. He has a brother named Rob.

His parents moved to Chicago in 1947. Blagojevich spent much of his childhood working odd jobs to help the family pay its bills. He was a shoeshiner and pizza delivery boy before working at a meatpacking plant. In order to afford university costs, Blagojevich worked for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System as a dishwasher.

Regarding his education, Blagojevich graduated from Chicago’s Foreman High School after transferring from Lane Technical High School. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Tampa. After two years, he transferred to Northwestern University in suburban Evanston, where he graduated in 1979 with a B.A. in history. He earned his J.D. from the Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983.

Source: @chicagotribune.com

When did Rod Blagojevich pursue his boxing and political career?

• Blagojevich had an amateur boxing career that spanned 13 months and included the Golden Gloves competition. He trained under Jerry Marzullo in Chicago’s Park District, and he fought most of his matches at the St. Andrews Gym in Chicago’s Northside.
• On February 24, 1975, at St. Andrews Gym, Blagojevich won his opening night match in the middleweight division by decisioning Thomas Muhme in 3 rounds. This win enabled Blagojevich to advance to the next round of the tournament.
• The next night, Blagojevich lost to Patrick Porter by 3rd-round technical knockout. Porter’s aggressive punching attack had Blagojevich covering up his face with his boxing gloves. Because Blagojevich did not return punches, the referee stopped the match (with Blagojevich still on his feet), and awarded it to Porter
• Following his loss in the Golden Gloves, Blagojevich retired from amateur boxing. His record was 6 wins, 2 by knockout, and 1 defeat.
• Blagojevich then took a job as Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney under State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley, specializing in domestic abuse, crimes, and felony weapons cases.
• In 1992, Blagojevich toppled 14-year incumbent Myron Kulas in the Democratic primary for the 33rd state house district, in the Illinois House of Representatives, which includes part of Chicago’s North Side.
• In 1996, Blagojevich surrendered his seat in the statehouse to campaign in Illinois’s 5th congressional district, based on the North Side. Rostenkowski was defeated for re-election in 1994 after pleading guilty to mail fraud and had been succeeded by Republican Michael Patrick Flanagan.
• In 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.

Source: @cnbc.com

• From 2005 to 2006, Blagojevich served as federal liaison for the Democratic Governors Association. Numerous scandals brought the governor’s approval rating as low as 36 percent, with 56 percent disapproving near the end of 2005.
• Under the direction of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Governor Blagojevich was arrested at his home by federal agents on December 9, 2008, and charged with corruption.
• On January 27, 2009, Blagojevich began a media campaign planned by publicist Glenn Selig. During the two-day campaign, he visited Today, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The View, multiple programs on Fox News Channel, CNN, and MSNBC where he proclaimed his innocence and insisted he would be vindicated.
• In July 2013, Blagojevich filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago challenging the corruption conviction and the length of his prison term.
• In August 2016, a resentencing hearing was held in the district court. Judge Zagel re-imposed the same 14-year sentence he had imposed in 2011. Zagel acknowledged the suffering of Blagojevich’s family and Blagojevich’s good conduct in prison but found that Blagojevich’s corrupt conduct still warranted a 14-year sentence.
• On May 31, 2018, President Donald Trump, soon after having pardoned commentator Dinesh D’Souza, told reporters that he was considering commuting Blagojevich’s sentence, as well as pardoning Martha Stewart.
• In August 2019, Trump commented to reporters that he was “very strongly” considering issuing a commutation.

Who is Rod Blagojevich married to?

Reflecting on his personal life, Rod was married to Patricia Mell in the year of 1990. The couple shares together two children. There is no information available when they met and how long they in a relation, etc., and his past affairs as well. At present, the couple seems to be happy and lives a blissful life with their children.

How much net worth does Rod Blagojevich own?

Tucker Carlson is a politician and Boxer who has a net worth of $100 million at present while his salary is yet to be disclosed. Rod has earned his net worth mostly through his boxing career, but he is also a politician.

How tall is Rod Blagojevich?

Observing his body statistics, Rod has a decent height and weight. He has dark brown eyes and black hair color. His other body information is yet to be disclosed. In the case of disclosure, we will let you know.