Arrest Impeachment and Eventual Pardon

Audible subscribers can listen to all our episodes of sccamfluencers ad free right now Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app We'll be back in two weeks with a brand new episode of Scamlincers, but today, we're revisiting a story that just keeps getting more absurd The saga of Rod Blagoyevich The Illinois governor who tried to sell a U. S Senate seat When we first told this story, Rod had already had his sentence commuted by President Trump during his first term Well, in february twenty twenty five, Trump went even further and gave Rod a full pardon saying that what happened to him was a quote terrible injustice And what did Rod do with his fresh start He became a lobbyist That makes sense for someone who tried selling a Senate seat. It's like Why not do something evil but legal, right? Well, within weeks of his pardon, Rod registered to lobby on behalf of the Republic of Shrvska, a Serb majority territory in Bosnia He's also lobbying the Trump administration to pardon another convicted politician, Anne Primagiore, the former CEO of Commonwealth Edison, who was found guilty last year of bribing the Illinois House spepeaker I guess it's one of those game recognized game situations, right? Yeah, it has to be So to recap, the man who went to prison for trying to sell political favors got pardoned and is now being paid a reported six figures to ask for more pardons Rod even told the Washington examxiner that Trump said he'd back him if he ever ran for office again So with this stunning update in mind, we're taking another look at Rod Bulgoyevich, the governor who proved that in politics, the grift never really ends Heads up to our listeners The subject of this episode, Rod Boggoyevich, has a bit of a dirty mouth. So this episode has a few more F bombs than usual. Welcome to the messy macho world of Chicago politics, baby Sarah, you know how American politicians are always campaigning on how they come from humble roots. You know, it's like son of a goat doctor, daughter of a boat of immigrants, you know, that kind of thing? Yeah, it's the American dream. They're like I'm the American dream and so are you Yes. Well, do you ever buy it? Like does it make you believe in the politician? Becauseuse it makes me much more suspicious Of course I don't, That's why I'm proud to be Canadian, where our leader is the son of a former prime minister Well, I ask because today I have a story about one of those politicians, a son of Eastern European immigrants who loved the attention he got from campaigning and the money he made as a powerful figure in American politics But you know what I remember the most about him, Sarah his hair. his awful Awful hair It's october, two thousand nine, and Rod Bligoyevich is visibly nervous He's wearing a dark suit with a blue tie, and his signature mop of thick brown hair hangs over his eyes He's in a boardroom seated next to celebrity chef Curtis Stone and retired Olympic sprinter, Michael Johnson TV cameras highlight the sweat dripping down his face. He fidgetes with his tie He seems completely out of his elements For six years, Rod was the governor of Illinois but not anymore He's recently been impeached. He's also been charged with racketeering, conspiracy, and lying to public officials But his anxiety isn't because of the nineteen count federal indictment. He's frazzled because he's appearing on the celebrity Apprentice. And the show's host, Donald Trump, is not happy. I just want to ask this one question. Your Harry Potter facts were not accurate Who did the research? On this week's episode, Rod's team, which includes poison frontman Brett Michaels and Wrestler Goldberg, was assigned to create a three D infographic about Universal Studios's wizarding worldor of Harry Potter But Rod's presentation was a mess. He's uncomfortable, and he's obviously unfamiliar with Harry Potter Here he is trying to name the houses in the book's fictional school, which he calls Hogwarts. It's slith ring and it's Hufflepuff, and it' Ravencloth Rod was a political star, and now he's one of the worst contestants on the celebrity Arentice. He naps during assignments. He's bad at delegating tasks and talking with his teammates He is unable to use a cell phone At one point, he tries to turn on a MacBook by flipping it upside down But Rod is desperate to stay on the show notot just because he wants to win people over and convince them that he did nothing wrong as governor. Also because he's broke and he needs the reality TV money And the longer he stays on the show, the more he gets paid The Donald has other ideas Governor I have great respect for you. I have great respect for your tenacity for the fact that you just don't give up But Rod G fired As governor, Rod used to handle tens of millions of dollars, and his decisions affected the lives of more than twelve million people But his political career went about as well as his foray into Harry Potter marketing Now his hopes of reality TV redemption have been dashed And soon, he'll face a much harsher judgment in federal court Whether you're exploring your fascinations or discovering new ones, Otwa has stories that will introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. Know how true the latest blockbuster movie stayed to the sci fi story it was based on, or find unexpected reveals through an exclusive trrue Cime podcast However you listen, Audible keeps you fascinated so you can be just as fascinating. Select any audio book every month, plus exclusive podcasts. pllans now start at eight dollars ninety nineents Audible. be fascinated, be fascinating Whether you're exploring your fascinations or discovering new ones, Aaa has stories that will introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. Know how true the latest blockbuster movie stayed to the sci fi story it was based on, or find unexpected reveals through an exclusive trrue Crime podcast However you listen, Audible keeps you fascinated so you can be just as fascinating. Select any audioobook every month, plus exclusive podcasts. pllans now start at eight doll ninety nineents Audible, be fascinated, be fascinating From Wundndery, I'm Sachi Cole, and I'm Sarah Hagy, and this is Scam Fluencers This not will. Rod Bulgoyevich was an ambitious son of immigrants who never lost an election and knew how to win over a crowd. But the same things that helped him rise to the top, like his love for fast talking and fundraising, ultimately led to his downfall. You might think you know the strangest things about Rod Bulgoyevich, but this is a story that includes bears, Elvis and the most important hairbrush in the state of Illinois It's an all American scam This is Rod Glogoyevich, all the governor's men G gotch you It's the summer of nineteen seventy five, an eighteen year old Rod feels trapped. He's tidying up the offices of the Alaska oil pipeline company where he works as a janitor It's super dusty So he decides to open up the doors and the windows. All he wants is a breath of fresh air. It's a long way from his home on Chicago's northwest side Growing up, Rod's family was typical of the neighborhood, white, working class, European immigrants. His dad was a Serbian born factory worker with expressive eyes and a weathered face. His mother, a ticket taker on public transit, was born in the U.S to a family from Bosnia and Herzegovina Rod grew up in the shadow of his older brother, Rob That's Rob like Robert In high school, his brother Rob was movie star handsome, star athlete and a top student Rod, on the other hand, was baby faced with chubby cheeks He got cut from the high school baseball team and instead of studying, he spent his time memorizing baseball cards and presidential trivia Even at a young age, Bad knows how to work a room He's the shrimpy little brother who doesn't mind being the butt of a joke if it makes people like him He also loves Elvis Presley, his rags to rich a story, his dance moves, and of course, how much he loved his mama Rod is also a mama's boy That's really sweet. Good for Rod. Well, this summer, Rod has joined his dad in Alaska to help pay for college He didn't get a job on the actual pipeline like his father, so he's doing graveyard shifts, scrubbing pots and pans and cleaning up the offices He lives in a dingy, cramped trailer. He'll later describe this time as being in a minimum security prison is lonely and overworked And Sarah, remember that door he opened to let in a little fresh air while he was cleaning A few hours later, one of his coworkers rushes in and asks Rod if he's seen the office security guards Rod says no, and he asks why And the coworker then says, someome fucking idiot left the doors open at the offices and there are two bears in there And sure enough, two bears are wreaking havoc, turning over desks and knocking down lamps. Rod cleaned the place just hours ago, but who could tell anymore? He is the fucking idiot who left the door open Even so he lets the security guard take the fall And over the next decade, Rod grows up He moves back to Chicago to finish college at Northwestern and works as a court interpreter to pay his way through law school in Malibu By the late eighties, he's a lawyer in Chicago. And while he'd rather forget his time in Alaska, he's learned a lesson that will stick with him for the rest of his career Lying can get him out of trouble. It's march nineteen eighty eight, over a decade after the incident with the bears At a fancy political event in Chicago, Patty Mell is the bell of the ball She's twenty two years old and dressed up in a sleek red dress that compleliments her auburn hair and dark eyes This is a glitzy fundraiser for her dad, Dick Mel a long time Alderman who wields a ton of influence. Dick looks exactly like what you'd expect from Googling oldld school Chicago politician White hair, no chin, buulldog face. You've heard of Chicago politics being called the machine, right? Dick is the machine The event is at a German restaurant on the city's north side It's a gorgeous two story tutor style space with oak walls, old worldorld paintings, and a huge dining area But instead of feasting on sour broton and Szel, Pattty is schmoozing. She's introduced to a thirty one year old lawyer named Rro He's cute enough with nice hair that she really responds to his mile a minute conversation Patdty's impressed with his charisma and his charm. She spent her life around colorful Chicago characters thanks to her father The rod sticks out And he says something that makes a lasting impression. He tells her, if you go out with me, I'm gonna show you the time of your life How would that work on you Sachi? one hundred percent it would work on me. Might not work forever, but it would work on me for the night. I would be like, That's not gonna mean for me. I'm open to heing more Well, over the next two years, they fall in love. On drives together, Rod sings Elvis songs to Patdty because his sports car radio keeps getting stolen. By the time they get married in nineteen ninety, Patdty's dad Dick has already hired Rod to work for him. Rod likes the job, and he respects the way Dick gets things done through deals and maneuvering Rod begins to see a future for himself political office One day, in january nineteen ninety two, Rod and Pattty arrive at Dick's house and see him on his hands and knees on the living room floor He's surrounded by maps and a list of names Thanks to redistricting, there's a state representative seat that's wide open. Dick doesn't like any of the politicians who might run to fill it is someone who Dick likes Broad Even though Rod has no experience, Dick asks him to run for state repepresentative Rod says yes immediately. He just has one question If he wins, could he vote however he wanted? or would he have to listen to Dick And Dick says I don't give a fuck about that All it takes is one guy to start the trajectory of someone like Rod's career. As long as one guy named Dick Mill believes in you, you can have anything you want. Dick Mill gave me my start. You know, I can't make fun of his name for that reason. Grateful to Dick Well, with Dick's help, Rod easily wins his first election Paul's clothes, he calls his mom She makes him promise that he'll be honest and won't take bribes He tells her, of course, And then immediately after that, she asks him to find a job for her sister's son in law It's a story Rod will tell as a joke for the rest of his career Even though Dick said he didn't care how Rod voted, Rod continuously asks Dick how to vote throughout his time as state representative After four unremarkable years in office, Rod decides to run for Congress. He feels bored with state politics, and he wants to be closer to the action And with his father in law's influence, he has a real chance to get there Here's the thing about Rod. He's a natural campaigner He's great at meeting voters at train stations, bowlling alleys, and diners. He always remembers names and faces, and it doesn't hurt that his father in law, Dick, has a lot of money and campaign workers Rad wins the election in nineteen ninety six, the same year Pattty gives birth to their first daughter, Amy. But once he gets to Washington, he's bored And he spends more time jogging around the Capitol than on his committee assignments He uses this extra time to focus on what he does best. callalling campaign contributors to ask for money And soon, Rod gets an opportunity to debut on the global stage and raise his own political ambitions It's three AM on april thirtieth, nineteen ninety nine, the middle of the Kosovo War Rad is in a hotel room in Belgrade, Serbia, watching NATO bombs detonate on the horizon. He's responding appropriately by wearing running shorts and ooing and awwing at the explosions, which he thinks look like special effects He calls his assistant and says, Are you seeing this man Hours later, accompanied by HBO cameras Rod jogs through the streets of Belgrade. He later tells Chicago Magazine, he's thinking, I'm standing probably where my father has stood Fraud is in like a bit of a weird state of mind His mother has just passed away and he's always been a mama's boy. But now he has to put his grief aside He has a very serious job to do He's here on a mission led by the Reverend Jesse Jackson Since Rod can speak Serbian and he's the only congressman of Serbian heritage, he's helping to negotiate the release of three captured US soldiers Okay, so the whole reason why he's there is that he speaks Serbian. Yeah, that's basically it. And that's enough. Well, he was the one in the room. Got it. And in negotiations, Yugoslavian President Slobodon Milosevich is so taken with Rud that Jesse calls him Slobodon's homeboy. term that Rod has to explain to Slobadan, his new war criminal bestie Eventually, the prisoners are released And Rod knows that even though the Reverend will take most of the credit, it's still a huge victory He's getting sick of DC, and he wants to be back home with his wife Pattty and his daughter, Amy He knows Illinois's Republican governor is mired in a scandal for illegally selling government licenses And even though the state hasn't elected a Democratic governor in twenty five years Rod smells blood Rod announces his campaign in august two thousand one at the Steel plant where his father once worked His father died after suffering a stroke a little more than a decade ago But Rod clings to his blue collar immigrant origin story. He uses his heritage to position himself as a populist reformer Take this campaign commercial, which was also filmed at the steel plant. I'm Rod Lagoyevich My name is Eastern European my story is American Rod wants to strike out on his own and get out of Dick's shadow So he relies on his own people to oversee fundraising like Chris Kelly Chris is a sweaty cigar smoking roofer who loves gambling. Rod likes him because he's fun, a working class Chicago guy that you can really hang out with. In the primary, Chris helps Rod outraise and outspend his competitors at a rate of almost four to one Sarah, can you read how a former campaign consultant described Rod's rise to the New Yorker Yeah, it goes, overnight, Rod went from Dick Mell's Smucko son in law congressman with the goofy haird to holy shit, this guy could be governor. And he never forgot that lesson that the thing that made him real was money I mean, it is so baffling and it's like, this is how things happen all the time and not just in America. Y. Well, all the money that Chris fundraises for Rod lets him sail through the primary but it also gives him the freedom to be his worst self He yells at staff and donors when one fundraiser ends up being seven grand short of a three hundred thousand dollars goal Sat's fundra raising tactics seem similar to one of his biggest donors Tony Resco Tony's a bald, mild mannered, and well dressed Syrian immigrant He's also extremely well connected, a killer fundraiser and an early backer of state Senator Barack Obama Rod likes Tony because he gets the job done. And more importantly, Tony is ready to help however he can like throwing patties some needed work in her real estate career After building a healthy wor chest, Rod faces his first serious political obstacle When that puts him at odds with his father in law, Dick At the Illinois State Fair in august two thousand two, just weeks before the election, a state leader claims that there are indiscretions and rods passed Dick goes on a local radio show to deny the rumors, but he just ends up giving them more publicity He says that the rumor about Rod is that he quote visited a house of ill repute Dick calls this kind of rumor gutter stuff, being put out by the opposition, and he repeatedly denies that there's any truth to it Dick's flub strains their relationship, and Pattty is mad at her father Even still, Rod manages to avoid a dip in the polls, and he easily wins a governorship thanks to Tony and Chris's help He quotes Elvis at his victory rally, saying he's got a hunk a hunka burn in love for his supporters. But do you know what Rod loves even more than his supporters? power of public office I'm Leon Nefo best known as the co creator of Slowburn and Fiasco. I had of course heard of O fans, but always with a distant and quiet skepticism A silent judgment, you might say Who is actually using this platform? I am Hi, I'm Oly Fans creator and comedian Gracie Kanan. I work from home now I'm on Oly Fans. and In case you guys don't know an O fans is, ask your husband My journalistic curiosity got the best of me when I found out that my own sister had started an only fansc I'm not a sister, just to clarify. It turns out a lot of what I thought I knew about On fans was wrong. I felt like I wasted three point five years for something that wasn't real what happens when connection comes with a price tag? Listen to Only Fantasy wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy ad free right now, only on Audible. Start your Audible subscription in the Audible app or on Apple podcasts Hello, I'm Matt Ford. And I'm Alice Levine. And we're the hosts of British Scandal. Yes we are and our new series starts with a loud, lovable woman from Bermondsey who becomes one of the most famous people in Britain. This is the story of Jade Goody, the reality TV star who built a fortune just by being herself. and then lost everything in one of the most public racism scandals Britain has ever seen. It's a story of fame? And a change of the conversation around cervical cancer forever Follow British scandal wherever you get your podcasts or listen early and ad free on Audible feel like I Rod is inaugurated as Governor of Illinois on january thirteenth, two thousand three, flanked by his wife, Pattty and his father in law, Dick. It's a realal affair. and here's how Rod introduces himself as captured by CSpan. I see a state where ethics laws are respected. where doing good is once again honored I will govern as a reformer, and I will lead this state in accordance with the values I learned. Does he not sound like Mayor Quimby from the Simpsons? I mean, Mayor Quimby's a little more New England for sure, but the same nonsense tone, The vibe is the same. Yeah, one hundred percent Well, after dancing to Eric Clapton's wonderful tonight, Rod and Pattty stay up late drinking with donors and advisors at the Governor's mansion in Springfield, That's where Emeric uimby lives Rod sees a bowl of oranges in the kitchen and reportedly tells the party attendees, Have a taxpayer orange. It's on me I mean, yeah, that is kind of a funny joke But not the kind of joke you should be making at a party when you just got a like Well, one of the first things Rod does as governor is make an executive order freezing all government hires. He also fires dozens of people, including several appointed by the disgraced former governor It's political theater to make Rod look like an anti corruption crusader But really, it just gives him and his advisors an opportunity to hand out jobs to their allies. He even keeps some Republicans who are willing to play ball Like Stuart Levine. Stewart might look unassuming with his glasses, his receding hairline, and his dirty gray hair, but he's an absolute shark of a businessman He's a millionaire who made a fortune working in healthcare and has been knighted by the King of Sweden Early on, Rob decides to live at home rather than move into the Governor's mansion, almost four hours away. His northide Chicago home is a fortress like red brick bungalow and an upper middle class neighborhood The crown jewel of the home is Rod's neeoclassical office. Its dark red walls are covered with portraits of Earren Burr and Alexander Hamilton. There's a bust of Napoleon on his desk and a floor to ceiling library The whole place is presidential, and there's plenty of room for a family to grow. Perfect because Patty is pregnant with another daughter Naturally, Rd's will work from homeome King Instead of talking to his policy team about governing the state, he spends his days on the phone with his quote kitchen cabinet of informal, unappointed advisors raising money. When he has to be in the governor's office, he apparently hides in the bathroom to avoid boring meetings with his budget director. He'd rather be shopping, dropping thousands on fancy ties and Oxford suits. He carries multiple Paul Mitchell brushes wherever he goes. He calls those brushes the football, like the suitcase with the nuclear code that travels with the president It's like he's playing with Legos or something. It's Sims. He's like in the Sims. It just doesn't make any sense. Well, still, Rod is likable, and he ends his first year with a fifty five percent approval rating. Not bad for a quiet quitting governor. There's trouble brewing. By two thousand five, his relationship with his father in law is on the rocks Dick is already frustrated because Rod pushed him aside for his own fundraisers and advisers. thing that really puts him over the edge is when Rod decides to close a landfill run by Dick's distant relative. It becomes an all out war R calls several local reporters to vent about his rogue son in law. He accuses Rod of destroying his family. He tells the Sun Times that he feels like a jilted spouse, saying, quote Chris Kelly is the new wife. I'm the old wife And in that interview, he drops a bombshell He accuses Chris of illegally giving out taxpayer funded jobs in exchange for donations to Rod's campaign Chris threatens to sue, and Dick retracts the statement Patty stands by her man not her father. I mean, Okay, sure, whatever this drama is, go for it. But how insane is it to make that comparison, the Chris Kelly's a new wife, I'm the old wife about your son in law. It's like biblically gross. It's so weird. Yeah, you're right But when reporters ask Rod why he would risk ruining his relationship with his father in law, Rod twists the knife He says the decision to close the landfill is the kind of action that separates the men from the boys. Listen to what he tells a reporter from NPR. Do you have the testicular virility to make a decision like that, knowing what's comeing your way and then stick to it Rod has torched his relationship with a man who is both his father in law and a major source of political power. Rod is his own man now, and he'll have to deal with the consequences Gureart's got it made Under Rod, he's been allowed to maintain his powerful positions on two major state boards. One of them controls which hospitals get built and by which companies. The other doles out and invests thirty billionars in teachers' pension funds. The lifelong Republican might disagree with Rod about taxes, but he agrees with him on the power of money But Stewart is corrupt He uses his influence to help appoint his own contractors for big hospital projects And once his contractors get the job, he siphons millions of dollars in kickbacks and finders' fees This usually works out great U until it doesn't When the CEO of a suburban hospital decides not to work with Stewart's chosen contractors, Stewart decides to apply a little pressure He orchestrates a run in with the hospital CEO at a diner so that he can hype up his contractors. But he also has no idea that she's wearing a wire in her bra and working with the FBI And because of this recorded conversation, which sure sounds a lot like a shakedown, the Feds are now secretly tapping Stewart's phone They record him talking explicitly about the frauds he's committing and gloating about getting away with them Later that year, Stewart is approached by federal prosecutors who convince him to resign from the board that controls the hospitals. And if the crimes weren't enough, it turns out Stewart has been living a double life. Despite his family man image, he's been flying to parties on private jets and going on venders using meth, cadamine, and cocaine How does one find the time to do all this? All this work for what? So you can fly around doing meth and ketamine? I mean, when you put it like that, it sounds amazing But it's like you can just do that It's just so crazy. It's like, You're making your life so hard, dude. I know, I know. Well, by the end of two thousand five, Stewart isn't the only one under federal investigation. So are Rod's other right hand men, Tony and Chris. And it's all thanks to Stewart's tapped phone Rumors swirl that Rod is under federal investigation too But he's unfazed. He denies having anything to do with these scandals. Sarah, can you read what he says during a press conference in september two thousand five? Yeah, he says I have on my side the most powerful ally that exists, and that is the truth. And the truth is that we do things legally. We do things ethically, and we do things right When Stuart learns just how damning the tapes of him are, he realizes he can't play a cool anymore So he starts wearing the wire, and he turns on Tony and anyone else he can to help him get a lighter sentence Rroad's political career depends on a vast network of corruption in Illinois, maintained by a lot of guys who, like Stewart, decide to flip Stewart has been at the center of this network for years, and if he's gonna unravel, he'll take everyone down with him Even amid all of the scandal of his administration, Rod is poised to win reelection And then comes another scandal The Chicago Tribune reports that Patty has received thirty eight thousand dollars in real estate commissions from working with Tony and over one hundred thousand dollars in commissions from a woman who had a lucrative state contract None of this seems to faze Illinois voters. They reelect Rod in two thousand six There are signs that he's losing his edge He takes the oath of office the following January to a half empty arena. And even though it seems like Rod is already bored with the gig, he still has FOMo when Senator Barack Obama announces his run for president about a month later Rod feels like it should have been him running for president. Or at least making an announcement in front of all those adoring fans I mean, here's the thing, Rod, you easily can run for president. He could. He just didn't. He could. He actually could, and that's the scary part. Yeah Well Rod has multiple swords hanging over him. In december two thousand seven, his chief campaign fundraiser, Chris, is indicted on charges of tax evasion and misusing corporate funds to pay off gambling debts. then a month later, Rod's major donor, Tony, gets arrested for corruption and illegal kickbacks. And as a part of the case against Tony, the government gets another associate of Rod's to flip. To make matters worse, a new bill is set to grind Rod's entire operation to a halt pass it would prevent any company that has a sizable contract with the state of Illinois from donating to the politicians who gave them the contract These kinds of donations are Rw's bread and butter. He attempts to veto the bill, but the state Senate overturns his veto And it becomes law. Rod doesn't know who he can trust anymore So he brings on a new person to handle fundraising his older brother Rob, a banker and retired Army lieieutenant colonel in Nashville. They'd grown apart, but Rod remembers how much his mother wanted them to be close with their parents dead, his brother is all he has left he's going to need all the help he can get because the FBI is closing in. The Feds are looking for run of the mill extortion But they're about to find something even bigger It's the fall of two thousand eight, and Barack Obama is about to win the U. S. presidential election It'll be a historic moment for the country and a huge moment of pride for the city of Chicago The rod isn't looking to the future He's thinking about the Senate seat Obama will leave behind As governor, Rod gets to decide who fills that senate seat So he starts testing the waters. findinding out who wants it and what he could get for it. which is of course, completely illegal. A month before the presidential election, investigators catch Rod's brother Rob on a damning phone call In it, he explains that Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson Junror, the son of Reverend Jesse Jackson, is interested in Obama's Senate seat So the Feds immediately set up wiretaps on all of Rod's phones. And here's Rod on one of those calls some lady calling out for Jessey Junior here a little while ago we were approached to pay to play You know, he'd raised me five hundred grand. an emissary came and the other guy would raise a billion P me to the senter Like cartoonish. He's like a megam mind. Just let it all out on the phone. Like this is the least ambiguous way to say you're doing something like that. And that's absolutely crazy. He said it over the phone. After all this has happened to people you know. Well, on the tapes, Rod sounds desperate. Since he took office, he and Patty have spent roughly four hundred thousand dollars more than their mortgage, just on clothing. He's broke and he has no interest in finishing his term as governor. Can you read this transcript of one of Rod's calls from November? Yeah, he says Oh my God, that is so that you know what? this proves so much about why people get into politics. Yeah It's like a game to them. see how easily they could get to the top. And then once they're there, they're like No, this isn't actually fun and having power sucks. Yeah, it does Well, Rod considers appointing Valerie Jaret to Obama's old Senate seat She's a longtime advisor to Obama, his preferred pick and a Chicago politics mainstay But Rod wants something in exchange, like a cabinet position or an ambassadorship, and Obama's camp is not interested in negotiating In other recorded phone calls, Rod even tries to get Patty a job in exchange for the Senate seat She's caught on the wiretap, suggesting that Rod appoint himself, saying, quote, U Hey, Senators make one hundred and sixty nine grand It gets so ridiculous that Rob is recorded wondering if he can appoint Oprah And Rod is saying all the wrong things too Can you read this wiretap transcript where he cites his hilariously low approval rating? Yeah, he goes thirirteen percent of you think I'm doing a good job, so fuck all of you Okay, I understand the warning at the beginning of this episode now.. I gave your fucking baby healthcare s hardard to fight that one, huh? We haveave a baby out of this, bro. Well, then, Rod himself says the thing that investigators have been waiting to hear We got this thing and And I'm just not giving it up for enough. Before long, the Chicago Tbune breaks the story The Feds have been tapping Rod's phone And now that their cover' blown, the FBI decides they already have enough evidence to arrest Rud At six AM on december ninth, two thousand eight, Rod's phone rings The person on the phone says they're from the FBI. They're outside of his house, and they have a warrant for his arrest At first, he thinks it's a joke But when he realizes it's not a prank, he tells them that he needs to make some calls and then he hangs up. He's still on the phone with his lawyer when the FBI agents walk into the room They tell him that he needs to get dressed He puts on a navy blue tracksit, maybe the one he would have worn for his morning jog and a pair of sneakers As they're getting ready to go, Rod turns to the agents to ask How does my hair look He leaves out the back door, handcuffed Patty is pissed. Feds who are still tapping their phones Catch her on a call with Rod's assistant, saying They just took my husband away Rod is facing some pretty serious charges He needs to prove his innocence And now he's gonna have to run the campaign of his life Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Audible has all the stories that'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a Sucy romantasy series. Become your friend group's sci fi expert on the latest blockbuster book to screen adaptation Or find unexpected reveals through the exclusive episodes of a viral true crime podcast. However you choose to listen, Audible keeps you fascinated, so you can be just as fascinating. All in one easy app, with plans now starting at eightll ninety nine cents, you'll get access to over one million audio books and podcasts, including trending bestestsellers Hotest new releases and exclusive podcasts you won't find anywhere else. Sign up now to become a member and get any audiobo book every month plus exclusive podcasts. Plans now start at eightll ninety nineents Be fascinated, be fascinating Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Aawell has all the stories that'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. 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Be fascinated, be fascinating I feel like a That's After Rod's arrest, he stuns everyone by actually appointing someone to Obama's old Senate seat It's Roland Burris, a long time Chicago congressman who was caught on the wiretap discussing donation options with Rod's brother Rob The appointment does not look good A few weeks later, Rod's officially impeached from office. He buys his daughters a poodle mix named Skittles to help them cope with the stress. And then Rod is officially hit with a nineteen count federal indictment. It names him and a few other cood defendants, including Chris and Rod's brother Rob One of the nineteen counts stems from a call where Rod was caught on tape asking about stopping millions of dollars in state funding for doctors to treat sick kids All because the CEO of a children's hospital didn't donate to his campaign Pattty isn't charged, but she's mentioned throughout the seventy five page complaint for her real estate work with Tony, including getting twelve grand a month to do Nothing. Wow, Pattty stays winning, Iicon. She is not involved in this. Got her bag. God bless. Good for her While with a trial approaching, Rod needs to prove his case to the public So he hires a new attorney who's coming off of a high profile job defending R. Kelly on child pornography charges. And under the advice of his new lawyer, Rod begins a media blitz He appears on any talk show that'll have him, even though his interviews keep making things worse. Like when he went on the late show with David Letterman Why exactly are you here? Honest to God, Well, you know, I've been wanting to be on your show in the worst way for the longest way. Well, you're on in the worst way, believe He's doing everything he shouldn't be doing all the time It's a really good way of putting it Well, he's asked by the hosts of the View to do a Richard Nixon impression. And of course, then he gets fired by Donald Trump on celebrity Apprentice Sarah, do you remember that? But it's slithering and it's raavencloth. It's weirdly so endearing because it's like when your mom's trying to like I know talk about something you're into or one of your friends. Yeah, yeah, it feels like that. Well, Pattty, meanwhile, appears on, I'm a celebrity. G me out of here. and she gets paid eighty grand a week and has to eat a tarantula Again, Pattty stays winning. She's not a celebrity. And that show had actual deal list celebrities that you would know. Patty is a celebrity to us because we love Patty Rod's trial starts in june twenty ten and it's a media circus Fans and reporters flock to see him. and just like he's done his whole life, he plays to the crowd outside of the courthouse But inside, Rod never actually takes the stand Two months later, the jury convicts Rod on one count of lying to the FBI They're deadlocked on the other counts, and the judge declares a mistrial The prosecutors are committed to bring Rad to justice The second trial happens almost a year later The government's case is simpler this time They drop the charges against Rod's brother and focus mostly on two things Rod's attempt to sell the Senate seat and is shaking down the children's hospital This time, Rod takes a stand But it goes about as well as a stint on celebrity apprentice. The lead prosecutor's first question to Rod You are a convicted liar, correct. And Rod says Rod finally found something he can't talk his way out of In june twenty eleven, a jury finds him guilty of seventeen felony counts, including every charge related to selling Obama's sentency He's sentenced to fourteen years in prison far more than anyone expected Outside the courthouse, Rod appears in a black suit and a thick blue tie, visibly defeated. Patty's crying and looks like she's about to faint. Rob tells the news cameras and this is also a time for Patty and me to get home. can explain to our kids Baby's Amy, N Ann what happened, what all this means, and where we're going from here. So we're going to keep fighting on through this adversity and Illee you soon Rod has finally hit Rck bottom In march twenty twelve, he reports to a federal correctional facility in Colorado His signature hair immediately turns white You'll be there for a long, long time It's been six years since Rod was locked up and appeals haven't worked Rod spends his days exercising and reading books, especially the Bible He even starts a band. They're called the jailhouse roockers. Rod mostly uses his TV time to watch the Cubs games But one night in twenty eighteen, he might have insisted on watching Fox News, where his wife is lobbying for his freedom Patdie goes on Tucker Carlson tonight She's a little nervous, but she nails Tucker's soft ball question. If you could speak to the president, what would be your pitch to pardoning your husband? You know my husband probably the only person in the entire history of the United States who is serving any kind of sentence for simply asking for campaign contributions Oh my Godd. Yeah, that's it, Patty. That's why he's in prison. simimply asking for money, I think people do every single day And by the way, the president of the United States is Donald Trump The guy who fired Rod on the celebrity apprentice Patdty makes several appearances on Fox over the next two years And it seems like Trump is tuning in In february twenty twenty, he commutes Rod's prison sentence. He tells the press. I don't know him very well. I've met him a couple of times he was on for a short while or the apprentice years ago Shee seem like a very nice person, don't know I can't believe it worked. It worked, man. And it's like Easy? Yeah, it was, I guess When Rod arrives back in Chicago, he served nearly eight years, just a little over half of his sentence. He's welcomed by a small crowd of supporters and reporters outside of his house He signs autographs, including a baseball And even though his security rushes him to the front door of his home, he stops to greet the people and shake hands. As a free man, Rod doesn't avoid the spotlight Though Illinois banned him from ever running for office again, he's got other outlets He immediately joins Cameo in twenty twenty and starts selling personalized videos for a hundred dollars a pop. So I'm rapping Rdy and I want to wish you a happy birthday U When I think about the day you were born, it ain't no day to mourn. He stars in a twenty twenty Hulu Docu series about his life, his conviction, and his release. He does other media blitz where he appears on podcasts like Chapo Trap House and Vlad TV. And he's grown in at least one way since going on the celebrity Arentice. He has finally learned how to use a cell phone prolific tweet who pays for a blue check and retweets people like Roger Stone and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But in spring twenty twenty three, he jumps into another spotlight performing rock and roll covers on stage at a Northide club called Martyrs. if you could believe it Broad's sitting in with a band called the drawers. It's not the jailhouse rockers, but they're tight and they draw a healthy crowd. And on stage he says, I'm just a former governor of Illinois who went to jail. So don't be cruel And then he sings the Elvis hit He nails it