CHICAGO — Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who served 14 years in prison on corruption charges before receiving a presidential pardon, sharply criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Thursday for his decision not to seek reelection. Blagojevich, speaking from his experience with political scandal, suggested that Walz’s withdrawal amid ongoing fraud investigations implies guilt.
“I’m no stranger to being accused of wrongdoing,” Blagojevich said in a social media statement. “But if you didn’t do it, the honorable thing to do is to fight. If necessary, go down fighting.”
Walz, a Democrat, announced Monday that he would not pursue a third term after consulting with his family and political advisers. The decision came amid mounting scrutiny over a $9 billion fraud scandal linked to Minnesota’s Somali community, a controversy that has roiled state politics and drawn national attention. Blagojevich accused Walz of “running away and quitting,” adding, “which makes me think his hands are unclean on the Somali $9 billion fraud scandal.”
The fraud allegations have prompted investigations by state and federal authorities, including the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman warned recently that the scope of the fraud crisis would shock Americans, highlighting the seriousness of the probes.
Blagojevich’s comments come as Walz faces criticism from both political opponents and some within his own party. The former governor also referenced a controversial social media post by Elon Musk, CEO of X, who accused Walz of replacing the Minnesota state flag with the Somalia flag — a claim denied by the designers of the new flag adopted in 2024. The flag’s redesign, which features a single star on a blue background, was intended to address concerns over the depiction of Native Americans in the previous version and has no connection to Somalia’s flag.
“Walz replaced the Minnesota state flag with the Somalia flag. That’s part of why he deserves the name ‘Traitor Tim,’” Musk tweeted in response to an artificially generated meme.
Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office in 2009 amid corruption charges before his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump, has remained outspoken on political issues since his release. He recently criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker for his attacks on the Trump administration, including Pritzker’s response to the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Walz’s decision not to run again leaves a significant void in Minnesota politics as the state grapples with fraud investigations and political fallout. The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will now face the challenge of selecting a new candidate to maintain control of the governor’s office in the upcoming 2026 election cycle.
As investigations continue, the political landscape in Minnesota remains uncertain, with calls for accountability growing louder. Blagojevich’s blunt admonition underscores the high stakes involved when public officials face allegations of misconduct, and the pressure to either confront accusations head-on or step aside.
