Rod Blagojevich Takes on New Role as Lobbyist for Controversial Politician
In an unexpected career pivot, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has found employment as a lobbyist, representing the interests of an ultranationalist figure dubbed the “Bosnian Bear,” who maintains connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This latest chapter follows Blagojevich’s pardon in February by President Donald Trump.
Through his lobbying firm, RRB Strategies, Blagojevich will be tasked with providing communications and public affairs support for the Republic of Srpska, a Serb-majority region in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has long been plagued by ethnic discord. His registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act indicates a serious commitment to this role.
The Republic of Srpska’s status is complicated, held together by the Dayton Accords—a 1995 peace agreement that brought an end to the Bosnian War. Blagojevich expressed his intent to leverage his influence to persuade policymakers to reassess the Dayton Agreement, advocating for it to better reflect contemporary realities, as he told POLITICO on Wednesday.
In his new position, Blagojevich aims to align himself with a cadre of populist leaders who he claims are being thwarted by “unelected bureaucrats” overstepping their constitutional boundaries. He mentions figures such as Trump, Marine Le Pen, and Milorad Dodik, the current president of Srpska, as examples of leaders facing similar challenges.
“The weaponization happening in Europe against populist leaders they disfavor started with me as a left-of-center Democratic governor in Illinois,” Blagojevich remarked. “This trend escalated with President Trump.”
It’s important to note that Dodik has long advocated for the Republic of Srpska’s secession from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with aspirations to join Serbia. Recently, he was sentenced to a year in prison for defying the country’s Constitutional Court and has reportedly fled to Moscow to avoid further legal repercussions.
In March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Dodik’s actions, highlighting his role in undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutional integrity and posing a threat to its stability.
Blagojevich’s own political history is fraught with controversy; he was pardoned by Trump after serving time for corruption, including attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. The two share a past, having crossed paths on The Celebrity Apprentice, which may have influenced Trump’s decision to commute Blagojevich’s sentence in 2020.
There were even discussions about appointing Blagojevich as the U.S. ambassador to Serbia before ultimately selecting former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich for the position.
With Serbian roots, Blagojevich is keen to leverage his background and experience in Balkan politics, citing a previous diplomatic mission in 1999 with Rev. Jesse Jackson to negotiate the release of American POWs in Belgrade.
“I see the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska as potential bastions of Judeo-Christian values in the Balkans, akin to Israel in the Middle East,” he stated. “I’m fortunate to have this opportunity to contribute to that vision.”
