Related Articles
Former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich lambasted members of his own party on Thursday for “coordinated prosecutions” against former President Trump and urged Democrats to vote for the Republican candidate on the heels of his guilty verdict.
“My heart is broken for our country because this is serious business, andthese Democrats — my fellowDemocrats who run the show now — are coordinating theseprosecutions against Trump fromthe Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., withassistance from the White Houseand Biden,”Blagojevich said on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TRUMP CRIMINAL TRIAL
Donald Trump arrives to Trump Tower, Thursday, May 30, 2024 after being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. (Felipe Ramales for Fox News Digital)
The former Illinois governor, who served from 2003 to 2009, cited his own run-ins with what he criticized as a politicized justice system, particularly for allegations that he attempted to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat after he was elected president in 2008. Convicted on corruption charges and impeached, he began serving his 14-year prison sentence in 2012 until Trump commuted his sentence during his presidency in 2020.
Blagojevich said he sees what Democrats are doing to Trump and understands what the former president is experiencing.
“It’s so obvious to me because Ilived it myself,” he said.
Like Trump who pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges, Blagojevich maintains he did nothing wrong.
“I see this as déjà vu allover again,” he said of Trump’s conviction.”I didn’t break a single law, cross a line or take a penny. They failed to convict me at afirst trial, tried me a secondtime, used unlawful juryinstructions to criminalize things that were legal, and they learned fromthat, now they are doing it atthe major-league level.”
Former Illinois governor and convicted felon Rod Blagojevich speaks to the press outside of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Aug. 2, 2021, in Chicago. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“It’s a very sad day for America onmany levels,”he continued. “On a personal level, I’m grateful to President Trumpfor commuting my sentence.My heart sinks when I thinkabout what he has to go throughand his family has to gothrough.”
Trump was found guilty by a jury in New York City on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in his history-making case in which a former or current president was tried and convicted in court.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR TRUMP LEGALLY? WHICH CASE MIGHT UP BEFORE ELECTION DAY?
“In my case, these were Bush-appointed Republicans who did itto me, and now the Democrats are doing it to Trump,” Blagojevich said. “But what they’re doing is, they are destroying the rule oflaw, our Constitution, which willeventually lead to the loss ofour freedom.Nothing is sacred with thesepeople.It’s politics at all costs andforget about the law and forgetabout injustice and forget aboutdestroying somebody throughprosecution, persecution and thepolitics of personaldestruction.”
Turning toward the upcoming presidential election, Blagojevich called on members of his party to vote for Trump, warning that the country is headed down a dangerous trajectory with its current leadership.
“The stakes are high,” he said. “I’m urging my fellow Democratsto fight for our country, vote for Trump… so we save ourdemocracy.If Trump doesn’t win, we’regoing to become Russia and theSoviet Union and a bananarepublic.”
Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.
Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to yael.halon@fox.com.
