As speculation swirl about President Donald Trump commuting her husband’s prison sentence, former Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich rode on a parade float in Saturday’s Bud Billiken Parade in Chicago with Rep. Bobby Rush and Rev. Jesse Jackson.
This week, President Trump told reporters he was “seriously considering” commuting the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has spent the last seven years in a federal prison after being convicted of trying to sell the Senate seat of then-President Elect Barack Obama.
Balloons saying “welcome home” were spotted outside of the Blagojevich home, but there’s been no official word on whether the president will use his commutation powers to free the former governor.
On Saturday, Patti Blagojevich was a low-key participant in the Bud Billiken Parade, riding on the back of a convertible with Rush and Jackson, waving to crowds and giving the thumbs-up to revellers.
Jackson has been a vocal proponent for Blagojevich’s case, asking the president to pardon the former governor. Trump has said he won’t issue a pardon to Blagojevich, but has indicated he could commute his sentence based on the severity of the punishment.
“Our President’s comments on Air Force One last night make us very hopeful that our almost 11 year nightmare might soon be over,” Patti Blagojevich said in a tweet Thursday night. “We are very grateful.”
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The former governor’s wife has made several public pleas to President Trump, and the president has been complimentary of her, calling her “fantastic” in interviews this week.
