As New York City Mayor Eric Adams navigates corruption charges, we couldn’t help but wonder what Rod Blagojevich was thinking. Like Adams, the former Illinois governor (and former congressman) came from humble beginnings before moving up the political ranks only to become involved in a corruption scandal. He was ultimately convicted (after a second trial) and served time before then-President Donald Trump commuted his sentence. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What’s your take on the Adams case? “After seeing what they've been doing to Trump, abusing their power against people who challenge the establishment, I think about this mayor here in New York and he has the temerity to question Joe Biden's failed policy with regard to migrants. I think it's reasonable for people to have a healthy skepticism. These charges against him are really nothing more than just politically motivated to destroy a guy who's challenging the establishment.” If it’s politics, why would a Democratic administration risk doing this right before a close election? “I don't think going after the Democratic mayor of New York City is gonna change a single vote in the presidential election or in any of the elections for the Senate or Congress.” Given you’re both from a working-class background, can you talk about what it was like operating in the high-powered world of political fundraising and government? “I thought about that a lot. I always felt a little bit like at some point, someone's gonna wake up and realize I'm in the room and they're gonna kick me out — because you get up into that rarified air with all of these elite, who came from, for the most part, privileged backgrounds, went to the best schools, and really never had to scratch and claw their way up." "And so I would sit there, honestly, I would sit there. I remember as a young congressman sitting in the conference committee, the Armed Services committee and I'm looking around the room and in that room ... I'm a freshman in Congress, and there's Ted Kennedy, and there's John McCain, and there's Chuck Robb, the son-in-law of President Johnson who got a back rub from a Playboy bunny or something. And there's John Warner — and my first thought was that guy made love to Elizabeth Taylor. … And then after I'm having these initial thoughts, I'm thinking someone's gonna realize I'm in here and they're gonna kick me out. So, I think there is something to that, that you don’t feel welcome being among the elites when you get there. It’s a club.” On the same lines, do you think elected officials should be paid more so they are part of the club? “I do not. They're paid more than enough. In my case, there was never any allegation that I ever took any money. There was no some sort of ‘cash in a brown paper bag.’ I think the pay is more than adequate.” “I do think they should tighten up some of the rules and, frankly, change the rules here in Illinois. For example, the state lawmakers, they work part time and they're getting paid more than enough for that, but they use their positions to get rich and they do that through making the rules that benefit themselves like the Madigans of the world to become super wealthy lawyers by making the rules that apply to their [legal] practices. Those are the things that ought to change. What leads some elected officials to exploit the system? “No one's accused me of taking any free rides or any free vacations or any money. I was simply talking about political deals and raising campaign contributions without quid pro quos. … I think it's a blurry line. I think in their minds, they're not seeing it as anything other than part of their jobs. … It's not so simple because government and politics are intertwined. You can’t be effective in government if you're not good at politics.” Based on your experience, what is Adams feeling right now? “It's a combination. He's shell-shocked. Feels isolated. He’s beginning to feel a sense of betrayal by people who've been around him. This is the beginning of a very, very lonely period for him, and, within his thinking, there'll be a struggle between trying to keep upbeat and optimistic and ward off the fear that's really gonna always be with him because, let's face it, he's in a fight against, very powerful forces with uncontrolled power and unlimited resources.” RELATED Prosecutors say further charges against Eric Adams ‘possible,’ charges against others ‘likely,’ by POLITICO’s Jason Beeferman
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