Fundraiser A: My Fight for Freedom and Justice

Fundraiser A: My Fight for Freedom and Justice

Books will be exclusively available for purchase TWO DAYS before the book’s release on April 15 You might remember the name Blagojevich from the tumult that ensued when then-governor Rod was accused of attempting to sell Barack Obama’s former Senate seat to the highest bidder in 2008. You might not know that Robert Blagojevich was indicted along with his younger brother. And while Rod was giving interviews and appearing on reality shows, Robert was focused on his defense, drawing on the strength and support of his wife and son to face the biggest challenge of his life. Fundraiser A is Robert’s story. The story of a man helping a brother who could trust no one else. A man who faced financial ruin, the destruction of his reputation, and an uncertain future when he was indicted. One who refused to turn on his brother in exchange for his freedom. And one who ultimately beat the staggering odds of a 96 percent Department of Justice conviction rate when the charges against him were dropped. In Fundraiser A, Robert provides a brutally honest inside look at what it is like to face the full force and power of the federal government and maintain innocence in a high-profile criminal case. By the time United States of America vs. Rod Blagojevich and Robert Blagojevich was over, one of the most renowned prosecutors in America, Patrick Fitzgerald, had brought down a governor of Illinois for the second time in five years. An investigation that would unseat one of the unindicted “co-conspirators” in the case, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., had begun. And the integrity of President Obama, US Senator Roland Burris, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was called into question. For the last four months of 2008, Robert was the head of Rod’s fundraising operation, Friends of Blagojevich. Rod and Robert had taken very different career paths and had drifted apart by middle age. But when Rod asked Robert to help him fundraise—because he couldn’t trust anyone else in the role—Robert agreed, honoring his parents’ wish that the brothers help one another when needed. In the rough-and-tumble world of Chicago-style politics, operating on an ethical level was not easy, as this telling memoir demonstrates. Robert often had to tell potential donors that there was no quid pro quo for a contribution: giving money did not result in state contracts and certainly didn’t result in an appointment to fill a vacant Senate seat. Fundraiser A offers not only a previously untold story of a fascinating trial with well-known, colorful characters that captured the attention of the nation, but also a look at a universal relationship—brothers—as well as the theme of a David ordinary citizen facing the Goliath federal government. Its portrayal of the damage the unchecked power of federal prosecutors can effect sounds a warning bell, a reminder about the need to protect our civil liberties and hold our public officials accountable. Those who enjoy legal thrillers, political dramas, family sagas, and all things Chicago will be especially interested in this memoir.