Donald Trump used his presidential power Tuesday to commute the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and issue a trio of pardons: to former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, 1980s junk bond king Michael Milken and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.

The moves led to speculation more pardons may be in the works, particularly for those Trump associates - such as Roger Stone or Michael Flynn - who got caught and convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Trump didn't confirm or deny more pardons were in the works but did defend his actions Tuesday, slamming the sentences of the white-collar criminals as harsh and unfair.

Donald Trump issued a series of pardons and commutations on Tuesday

Trump commuted the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (upper left) and issue a trio of pardons: to former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik (upper right), 1980s junk bond king Michael Milken (lower left) and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr (lower right)

‘Yes, we have commuted the sentence, he served eight years in jail, a long time,’ Trump told reporters about Blagojevich during a Q&A session at Joint Base Andrews before he left for a four-day trip to the West Coast.

‘I don't know him very well, I've might've met him a couple of times,’ Trump added. ‘He was on for a short while on “The Apprentice” years ago. Seem like a nice person, don't know him, but he served eight years in jail, it was a long time he had to go, many people disagree with the sentences. He's a Democrat, he's not a Republican.’

He added: ‘He will be able to go back home with his family after serving eight years in jail. That was a tremendously powerful ridiculous sentence in my opinion. And in the opinions of many others.’

The commutation means Blagojevich is freed from prison but doesn't have his conviction wiped from his record. Republicans had asked the president not to pardon the former governor, pointing to his corruption record.

Blagojevich, 63, was sent to prison for 14 years for soliciting bribes, including those for the Senate seat once held by Barack Obama, and for trying to shake down a children's hospital.

In 2009, Blagojevich appeared on NBC's 'The Apprentice,' the reality TV show then hosted by Trump.

The president also voiced his support for Kerik, a close friend of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and Milken, who became the face of insider trading during the 1980s.

President Trump called Kerik ‘a man who has had many recommendations from a lot of good people.’

Kerik, 64, served just over three years in prison for tax fraud and lying to the White House while being interviewed to be Homeland Security secretary for then-President George W. Bush.

He was appointed police commissioner by Giuliani and served in the position during the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Trump, for his part, praised Milken’s work on cancer research, saying he 'has gone around and done an incredible job for the world with all of his research on cancer.'

The president added: ‘He suffered greatly, he paid a big price, he's done an incredible job.’

Milken survived prostate cancer and co-founded the Milken Family Foundation and is chairman of the Milken Institute - the charities fund research into melanoma, cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Milken, 73, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes while heading the bond department at the investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert, and fined $600 million. His sentence was later reduced to two years after he cooperated with federal authorities.

Michael Douglas' unscrupulous character Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street was at least partially based on Milken.

Supporters of Milken’s pardon included Giuliani, as well as New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

Ironically, it was Giuliani who charged Milken with 98 counts of racketeering and fraud under the RICO act in 1989.

President Trump also pardoned Ariel Friedler, a technology businessman who pleaded guilty to accessing a computer without authorization; Paul Pogue, a construction company owner who underpaid taxes; David Safavian, who was convicted of obstructing an investigation into a trip he took while he was a senior government official; and Angela Stanton, an author who served a six-month home sentence for her role in a stolen vehicle ring.

President Trump said he relies on recommendations when making his decisions on who to pardon.

‘These are all people that you have to see the recommendations. I am reliant recommendations,’ Trump said.

The rash of pardoning has led to rampant speculation the president may pardon his longtime friend and former campaign aide Roger Stone.

Stone was convicted on seven counts, including witness tampering and lying to investigators, as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Trump called the case against Stone 'tainted' in a tweet on Tuesday morning but the judge in his case denied a motion by Stone's lawyers for a retrial.

‘I haven't given it any thought,’ the president said Tuesday when asked if he would pardon Stone. ‘I think he's been treated very unfairly.’

He also said he thought is former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was being treated unfairly. Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI in relation to Mueller's investigation.

‘I think Roger Stone has been treated unfairly. I think General Flynn has been treated very unfairly. I think a lot of people have been treated very unfairly,’ Trump said.

‘You will see what happens,’ he added.

The news follows Trump's decision to pardon former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., which he had his deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley announce in the presence of several former NFL players - including Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Charles Haley, and Ronnie Lott.

Gidley and the players left the West Wing Tuesday morning to announce the president's decision in front of the White House.

The players praised the decision to pardon him.

'I take my hat off to Donald Trump for what he did,' Rice said.

Pastor Darrell Scott, former NFL player Jim Brown, and White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley step out of the West Wing after speaking to President Trump about DeBartolo

The pardons amid speculation Trump will pardon Roger Stone

Brown called DeBartolo a 'great man.'

DeBartolo paid $400,000 to former La. Gov. Edwin Edwards to help win a riverboat casino license in 1998.

He pled guilty to the charge of failing to report a felony, and received a $1 million fine and two years of probation. And he was suspended for a year by the NFL.

The son of a prominent real estate development family, DeBartolo owned the 49ers for 23 years and won five Super Bowls as their owner. He stepped down as owner in 1997 after two Louisiana newspapers reported he would be indicted for gambling fraud.

In 1992, DeBartolo was accused of sexual assault by a cocktail waitress he met at a local bar in California. He denied any wrongdoing and was never charged but reportedly paid $200,000 to settle the case out of court.

Rice, who as a wide receiver won three Super Bowls with the 49ers, praised DeBartolo's ownership of the team.

'It was all about family. That's really what they stood for. And that's the reason why I think we won so many championships,' Rice said.

'Eddie was like that 12th man that was on that football field. You know that this guy, you know, he wanted us to win. And I think he's the main reason why we won so many Super Bowls. So today is a great day for him. I'm glad to be here and be a part of that. And, you know, it's just something I'll never forget. You know, this man, he has done so much in the community, he has done so much in NFL football,' he noted.

Former NFL football player Jerry Rice praised Trump's decision

Former NFL football player Jim Brown is a long time Trump supporter

Jim Brown, who praised Trump's decision, is a long time supporter of the president who co-hosted an inauguration party after Trump won the 2016 election.

DeBartolo co-hosted that event with Brown, which honored those close to the president, including Michael Cohen, Trump's then personal attorney who later went to prison for campaign finance violations and tax fraud, and and Omarosa Manigault Newman, the 'Apprentice' contestant turned White House aide who was later fired from that position.

The former fullback for the Cleveland, Brown was also at the White House in October 2018 when Trump met with rapper Kayne West in the Oval Office.

Trump, meanwhile, used his pardon power for DeBartolo as speculation has mounted he may do the same for his longtime friend and former campaign aide Roger Stone.

Stone was convicted on seven counts, including witness tampering and lying to investigators, as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Trump called the case against Stone 'tainted' in a tweet on Tuesday morning but the judge has denied a motion by Stone's lawyers for a retrial.