March 15, 2012 09:55 PM UTC

Welcome to Jeffco, Rod Blagojevich

• 0 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will no longer be calling the Land of Lincoln “home.” Instead, he’ll be settling down right here in Jefferson County, Colorado. Not by choice, of course!

From 9News:

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) – Convicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich entered a federal prison in Colorado on Thursday to begin a 14-year sentence for corruption, the latest chapter in the downfall of a charismatic politician that seemed more like a bizarre reality TV show than a legal battle.

Followed by helicopters and television news crews broadcasting his every move, the 55-year-old Democrat pulled up in a black SUV at the Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in suburban Denver just before 1 p.m. after stopping for lunch and taking a break to make a cellphone call.

“I think it’s kind of surreal to him, but he seems in good spirits,” said Brian Pyle, who owns the Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers in Littleton where Blogojevich had lunch with three other people…

Blagojevich sounded an optimistic and even defiant note, as he has done repeatedly before and after he was convicted on several corruption charges that included attempting to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.

“I’m leaving with a heavy heart, a clear conscience and I have high, high hopes for the future,” said Blagojevich, wearing a dark shirt, sport coat and blue jeans.

Next time you’re driving down Kipling, just south of Hampden, you might just be lucky enough to catch Blago wistfully combing his perfectly-coiffed hair behind a barred window.

And hey, maybe Kevin McCasky will drop in during visitation hours to get some advice on how he too can turn his ethical problems into a primetime spot on The Apprentice.