BREAKING: Trump pardons former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich

"He was set up by a lot of bad people," Trump said from the Oval Office, signing the pardon. "Some of the same people that I had to deal with. He wasn't quite as successful, but he had somebody that saw what was going on. I didn't know him but I believe he was on The Apprentice." He was on Celebrity Apprentice.

In 2011, Blagojevich was convicted for attempting to sell an appointment to the Senate seat President Barack Obama had vacated when he won the presidency in 2008. Charges also alleged that Blagojevich had attempted to "shake down a children's hospital," the AP said.

He was in prison for eight years before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. Trump saw similarities in the prosecution of Blagojevich and his own prosecution over Russia collusion.

Trump has signed hundreds of pardons since taking office, most notably for over 1,500 Americans who were prosecuted by the Biden administration's Department of Justice for their participation in a riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Prior to leaving office, Biden pardoned his family, including his son who was facing sentencing for criminal gun and tax crimes, his brother, sister, and others.