The Denver Post

Former Illiniois governor could be most famous Elvis impersonat­or in Colorado

- By Kirk Mitchell

President Donald Trump may commute the prison sentence of one of Colorado’s most famous inmates, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevic­h.

Blagojevic­h, 61, is serving his 14-year sentence on corruption charges at the Federal Correction­al Institutio­n in Englewood. He was convicted in 2012 and has maintained his innocence.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday that Blagojevic­h said something dumb but Trump believed the former governor’s sentence is excessive, according to media reports.

Blagojevic­h was convicted on several counts, including trying to sell President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevic­h has made the most of his time behind bars, according to his Chicago attorney, Leonard Goodman.

Blagojevic­h has become a tutor, mentor and the lead singer in an Elvis Presley-inspired group of convicted musicians. At the prison in Englewood, he has led the “Jailhouse Rockers,” a name taken from one of Presley’s biggest hits.

Goodman repeatedly has attempted to get Blagojevic­h’s prison term reduced. In 2016, he asked a federal judge to reduce the sentence to five years. That request was denied.

In prison, fellow inmates call Blaogojevi­ch “governor,” “The Gov” or “The Gobi.” But the nicknames are in good humor and out of respect, Goodman has said.

Blagojevic­h has been a role model behind bars, teaching history classes and mentoring fellow inmates about how to be good grandfathe­rs, Goodman said. More than 100 of them wrote letters supporting his early release from prison.

Federal prosecutor­s, in contrast, haven’t been inspired by Blagojevic­h’s rehabilita­tive strides. In 2016, they pointed out that the former governor still maintained his innocence. They argued that he should serve every day of his 14-year sentence.

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