Disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat and convicted felon, urged voters Sunday to support Republicans, arguing that socialists such as Zohran Mamdani have “hijacked” the Democratic Party.
Blagojevich was convicted of trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama vacated after winning the 2008 presidential election. Speaking on the “Cats Roundtable” radio program, he said, “It’s not the Democratic Party anymore.”
“It’s a socialist party,” said Blagojevich, who now describes himself as a “Trump-O-Crat.” He discussed his new book, “Framed, F*cked, and Freed: A Governor’s Odyssey,” during the interview on 770 WABC.
“The Democratic Party has been hijacked by socialists and communists who hate America,” the former governor said. Referring to New York City’s far-left mayor, he added, “If you want Mamdamis all across America, then stay home and allow the Democrats to win the midterm elections.”
“But if you want to make our country great again, and protect it from people who would destroy our country, then get out there and vote” for Republicans, Blagojevich told host John Catsimatidis.
President Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence for political corruption in 2020.
Blago, as he is known in political circles, also blamed Obama, whom he characterized as being on the “socialist side,” for his legal troubles.
The former governor said an Obama emissary approached him about who should be appointed to the Senate seat Obama was leaving.
MUST READ: Brad Pitt Opens Up About How He Survived His ‘Darker Days’
“None of it would have happened if [Obama] didn’t send someone to meet [me] to make a political deal, which was criminalized in my case,” Blagojevich said. “Obama should have stood up for the rule of law – not so much for me – but for the rule of law and the Constitution. But he didn’t.”
“He made a very cynical, political deal to protect himself. He spent eight years in the White House. I spent eight years in the big house. I laugh about it now, but you’d have to say … that Obama had a better eight years than me.”
“None of it would’ve happened had Obama not approached me to make the political deal that was criminalized against me – which wasn’t a crime,” Blagojevich said.
Obama has maintained that he never discussed a pay-to-play arrangement with Blagojevich involving the Illinois Senate seat he vacated to become president.
“I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time,” Obama said in 2008 when asked about Blagojevich.
Blagojevich was recorded on FBI wiretaps saying, “I’ve got this thing, and it’s [expletive] golden, and I’m just not giving [the appointment to the Senate seat] up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not gonna do it.”
Blagojevich said his book offers a far more favorable portrayal of Trump, whom he considers a better president for working-class Americans because of tax cuts on tips and overtime.
Catsimatidis also appeared to be making a case for Blagojevich’s political rehabilitation by suggesting that he run for mayor of Chicago.
