Ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich says new lawsuit would open door to run for office

CHICAGO — Former governor and convicted felon Rod Blagojevich on Monday told WLS that Illinois’ General Assembly violated his civil rights in removing him from office and then prohibiting him from any future run for elective office in the state.

Blagojevich was impeached and convicted in 2009 and now plans to ask that a federal jury hear his complaint that the proceedings and decisions were unconstitutional. If the ban on his holding statewide public office was to be lifted, it would open the door to another possible statewide run for the career politician.

The ex-governor, released from prison nearly a year and a half ago, has prepared a 10-page federal lawsuit.

Blagojevich said the suit was to be filed at 2 p.m. Monday at Chicago’s Dirksen federal building. He was expected to conduct a news briefing outside the federal building after filing the civil suit.

According to the paperwork, the lawsuit will be filed “pro se” by Blagojevich as a citizen and without a licensed attorney. The former governor is an attorney but was disbarred in 2020 and is not eligible to represent himself or anyone else.