Rod Blagojevich seeking early end to supervised release, left intact by Trump

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is apparently seeking an early end to his two-year supervised release, left intact when his prison sentence was commuted in February 2020 by then-President Donald Trump, court records show.

The move remains as a formality to bring an end to the corruption case that roiled Illinois more than a decade ago. U.S. Attorney John Lausch’s office does not oppose the request, according to spokesman Joseph Fitzpatrick.

An “agreed motion for early termination of supervision as to Rod Blagojevich” appeared on the court docket Friday, but the document was filed under seal. A representative of the former governor did not immediately comment.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis now presides over Blagojevich’s case and would have to approve the request.

Trump commuted the 14-year prison sentence of Blagojevich, now 64, citing the years-long campaign for clemency by former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich and calling Blagojevich’s eight years behind bars “a long time.”

Blagojevich reemerged in Chicago at O’Hare Airport around midnight on Feb. 19, 2020 — weeks before the coronavirus pandemic took hold here.

Still, Trump did not undo Blagojevich’s two years of supervised release, which govern a federal defendant’s behavior after prison. Blagojevich’s conditions were standard. They included seeking permission from a probation officer or the court to leave the federal district. And if Blagojevich didn’t find a job in two months, he had to perform at least 20 hours of community service per week until employed.

Blagojevich wound up joining Cameo, a web service where notable people record personalized video greetings for strangers at a price. He also has a podcast called “Lightning Rod.”