BATON ROUGE (AP) — Edwin Edwards ended his home detention Wednesday and soon will be attending public events, nearly nine years after heading to prison for a corruption conviction.

In a Facebook posting, Edwards’ fiancee, Trina Grimes Scott, announced the four-term former governor had signed forms officially ending his six-month home detention and allowing him to begin a series of planned public appearances around Louisiana.

“FREE AT LAST… FREE AT LAST!!! IT’S OFFICIAL!!” Grimes wrote.

The charismatic and popular politician plans to embark on a book tour in about a week. He’s in talks for a reality TV show.

He’s making plans for a third wedding. And he’s having an 84th birthday party in the French Quarter on July 30.

His return to freedom, however, was understated — not marked with the flash and cunning commentary for which the former governor has long been known. The paperwork was signed in private, and Edwards simply called his biographer Leo Honeycutt to notify reporters about the milestone.

“Everything has been cleared. My halfway tour is over,” Edwards said in the voicemail played for reporters.

Edwards served eight years in prison for a bribery and extortion scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses. He began home incarceration in January. He’ll be on probation for three years.

The Democrat dominated state politics for decades, but he can only re-enter the political scene as an adviser or supporter of another candidate. Because of his conviction, Edwards can’t make a bid for elected office until 15 years after his sentence completion unless he is pardoned.

Edwards served into the Louisiana Legislature and Congress, before serving as governor for 16 years between 1972 and 1996. By his own count, Edwards was the subject of two dozen investigations in elected office, before his conviction during his final term. Edwards has maintained his innocence.