North Carolina Senate Candidate Seeks Support from Controversial Figure
The U.S. Senate campaign of Michael Whatley in North Carolina is navigating challenges with close poll numbers and slow fundraising efforts. In a surprising political move, Whatley is seeking assistance from a controversial figure: former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who is a convicted felon.
Whatley recently shared the stage with Blagojevich at a fundraising event held on March 19 at Trump Tower in Chicago. The event also featured Don Tracy, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois as a Republican.
Rod Blagojevich, elected as the governor of Illinois in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, was impeached in 2009. The impeachment followed allegations of his attempt to profit from appointing a successor to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by then-President-elect Barack Obama.
The infamous quote from Blagojevich during a 2009 wiretapped phone conversation, “I’ve got this thing, and it’s fucking golden. I’m just not giving it up for fucking nothing,” highlights the controversy surrounding his actions. In 2011, he was convicted on 17 counts related to the Senate seat deal and other extortion charges, receiving a 14-year prison sentence. Despite the convictions, Blagojevich continues to assert his innocence.
His sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2020, leading to his early release. Trump further granted Blagojevich a full pardon the following year, removing the charges from his record.
This presidential intervention drew criticism from various Illinois lawmakers, including Republicans. State Senator Jil Tracy expressed disappointment, stating, “Anybody that had lived in the state of Illinois during that time and saw how dysfunctional and chaotic that administration was.” Tracy criticized Blagojevich for abusing his power and engaging in “pay-for-play.”
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin labeled the scandal involving Blagojevich as “one of the worst” in Illinois’ political history.
Whatley’s campaign has previously been scrutinized for its association with questionable contributors. Reports from the previous month indicated that his campaign received $21,000 from donors linked to health care fraud.
His opponent in the upcoming election is former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, representing the Democratic Party.
