Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is leveraging his relationship with former President Donald Trump to seek clemency for Frank Kollintzas, a former Indiana city councilman convicted in a vote-buying scandal. According to a federal lobbying disclosure, Blagojevich’s firm, RRB Strategies LLC, reported receiving $50,000 in connection with lobbying efforts on Kollintzas’s behalf.
Blagojevich, pardoned by Trump in February 2025 after previously receiving a commutation for his 14-year sentence on political corruption charges, is pursuing presidential clemency for Kollintzas, who fled to Greece following his conviction. Kollintzas was found guilty in 2004 of lying to a federal agent and misappropriating municipal funds in East Chicago, Indiana. He was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for unauthorized municipal improvements made just before the 1999 primary election.
This is not the first clemency request filed by Blagojevich’s firm. Last year, RRB Strategies sought clemency for Anne Pramaggiore, former CEO of ComEd, who was described in filings as “wrongly prosecuted, wrongly convicted, and wrongly incarcerated.” A federal appeals court subsequently ordered her release and vacated the convictions of Pramaggiore and longtime lobbyist Michael McClain, raising the possibility of a new trial. Blagojevich’s lobbying for Pramaggiore reportedly earned him $280,000.
Clemency lobbying has become a significant business, especially as the traditional pardon process handled by the Department of Justice has increasingly moved under the influence of the White House. Lawyers and lobbyists use connections with Trump and his aides to advocate for clients seeking pardons or commutations.
Blagojevich’s legal troubles stemmed from federal convictions including attempted sale of then-President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat, extortion of campaign contributions, and blocking legislation for financial gain. Despite the commutation Trump granted in 2020, Blagojevich’s convictions for several key charges remain intact.
The former governor first connected with Trump while competing on the reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2010. Although Blagojevich was eventually dismissed from the show, the two developed a rapport that now appears to underpin Blagojevich’s efforts to lobby for clemency clients.
Blagojevich’s involvement in lobbying for pardons has drawn criticism. Jim Durkin, former Illinois House Republican Leader, expressed concern that clemency for Kollintzas would undermine justice for victims who have not received restitution, describing the process as a double injustice. Durkin also characterized Blagojevich’s new lobbying role as part of an “unsavory” network attempting to capitalize on presidential connections. He suggested that such efforts may lose effectiveness once a new administration assumes office.
Blagojevich had no immediate comment on the lobbying activities related to Kollintzas.