Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says he’s “profoundly grateful” after President Donald Trump pardoned him on corruption charges. The President signed the pardon on Monday. Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 on charges that include seeking to sell an appointment to a Senate seat.

Trump's decision to commute Blagojevich's sentence was met with bipartisan criticism in Illinois. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said at the time that Trump "has abused his pardon power in inexplicable ways to reward his friends and condone corruption, and I deeply believe this pardon sends the wrong message at the wrong time."