Rod Blagojevich Was In A Prison Band Called The Jailhouse Rockers

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jul 12, 2016 3:01PM

Donald Trump isn't the only bizarrely coiffed, Celebrity Apprentice-affiliated blowhard making Illinois news today.

Attorneys for former Rod Blagojevich filed a request late on Monday to have the former Illinois governor's sentence reduced from 14 years down to five. Among the details in the request is this quintessentially "Blago" revelation: the noted Elvis Presley acolyte formed a band in prison called the Jailhouse Rockers.

They were apparently a functioning live unit, too. The Rockers reportedly performed at the prison GED graduation ceremony in June 2013 and on the Fourth of July. Alas—in what would make for the most hilarious, "Summer of '69"-style nostalgic verse—the band was forced to take a hiatus when the lead guitar player was released from prison.

It's more than just a funny detail for the defense, however. The band is arguably illustrative of Blagojevich as model inmate. Blagojevich attorney Leonard Goodman also pointed out that the disgraced former governor taught Civil War history classes, and he presented letters from more than 100 inmates in the Colorado prison casting Blagojevich in a positive light.

If the request is granted, Blagojevich, who has served more than four years of his sentence for a corruption conviction, would have only months remaining in jail. A re-sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9. (Insert "Don't Be Cruel" pun here.)