Arrested: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) faces federal fraud and bribery charges. (M. Spencer Green/AP/File)
Feds arrest Illinois governor for corruption
Blagojevich ‘corruptly used his office,’ US says after a wiretap probe.
By Amanda Paulson | Staff writer/ December 9, 2008 edition
Reporter Amanda Paulson discusses Rod Blagojevich's troubled tenure as governor of Illinois.
Chicago
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges, including that he conspired “to sell or trade” an appointment to the US Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Obama.
The arrest makes Governor Blagojevich, a Democrat, the second Illinois chief executive in a row to face charges of pay-to-play politics, a dispiriting event for residents weary of the state’s reputation for seamy politics. His predecessor, Republican George Ryan, is serving a 6-1/2-year sentence for a corruption conviction two years ago.
“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Tuesday in a statement. “They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.”
Blagojevich was arrested along with his chief of staff, John Harris. Each was charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and solicitation of bribery. At a press conference, Mr. Fitzgerald characterized the governor’s actions as “a political corruption crime spree.”
Blagojevich appeared before US Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan Tuesday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance and a $4,500 bond, without making a statement.
Included in the FBI affidavit are charges that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade Mr. Obama’s vacated US Senate seat. On the wiretaps, the affidavit asserts, the governor speculated about trading the Senate appointment for perks such as a large salary for himself, once he leaves office, at an organization affiliated with labor unions; an appointment for his wife on corporate boards, where she might be paid as much as $150,000 a year; promises of campaign funds; and a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
In one conversation about the Senate seat, Blagojevich allegedly told Mr. Harris and an adviser he needed to consider his family and that he is “financially” hurting. Harris responded that he and the adviser were weighing what would help the Blagojevich family’s “financial security.”
The affidavit also details discussions from last week in which Blagojevich is alleged to have said he might “get some [money] up front, maybe” from an individual the government identifies only as “Senate Candidate 5.”
Earlier, he was recorded claiming to have been approached by an emissary from that candidate, who said he would raise $500,000 for Blagojevich in exchange for the seat.
The charges, too, include allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others since the governor took office in 2003 to obtain benefits for himself, his family, and his campaign committee, repeating, in some cases the testimony of witnesses at the federal trial earlier this year of Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Mr. Rezko, a donor to Blagojevich’s campaign, was convicted for using his connections to state board appointees to demand kickbacks from businesses that wanted to do business with the state.
But the charges focus primarily on events of the past two months, when Blagojevich allegedly sped up corrupt fundraising activities before a new state ethics law took effect, hindering any ability to accept financial contributions from anyone with a state contract. The allegations include documented instances in which the governor told individuals that he expected contributions ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 in exchange for state help and contracts. In one case, when the expected contribution from an executive of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago didn’t come, Blagojevich discussed rescinding $8 million in state funds committed to the hospital, the affidavit says.
It also alleges that Blagojevich sought the firing of Chicago Tribune editors responsible for negative editorials about him, in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and owned by the Tribune Co.
Blagojevich was the first Democratic governor elected in the state in 30 years, winning in part because of a backlash against former Governor Ryan, who faced corruption scandals at the end of his term. Blagojevich campaigned with a reformist message, promising to change politics as usual in Illinois.
“He’s done everything possible contrary to that pledge,” says Jay Stewart of the Better Government Association, a nonpartisan Chicago watchdog group. “The governor hasn’t been convicted yet, but the court of public opinion and common sense tells you that something is deeply, deeply wrong with Illinois government.”
Besides dealing a blow to the state’s psyche and national image, Blagojevich’s arrest casts a shadow over the appointment of Obama’s successor to the Senate. Any Blagojevich appointment will appear tainted, Mr. Stewart says.
On Tuesday, several Illinois politicians called for ways in which the open Senate seat could be filled without Blagojevich’s involvement. Illinois Senate President Emil Jones promised to call lawmakers back into session to consider a bill for a special election to fill the seat.
The charges also come at a terrible time for a state facing a severe budget shortfall.
“Our financial crisis is now,” Stewart says, noting that, until convicted, Blagojevich is still governor. “This governor had difficulty getting things done in a less difficult environment.”
Rumors about Blagojevich’s involvement in pay-to-play schemes and inflammatory evidence from the Rezko trial have persisted for at least a year. His approval ratings have been hovering at a paltry 13 percent.
The arrest was “the whole notion of not whether, but when,” says Paul Green, a political scientist at Roosevelt University in Chicago. “You expect it, it’s still shocking, but it’s not a huge surprise.”
If Blagojevich is convicted, Illinois faces the prospect of having two former governors in jail, and future officeholders can expect heavy pressure to enact ethics reforms. One issue, says Professor Green, is the large amount of money required to run for statewide office in Illinois.
“We need to deal with the specific instances that led to this, and then we need to look at systemic issues that lead to this kind of conduct,” says Stewart. “If this isn’t evidence that our system is fundamentally corrupt, then I don’t know what is.”
Comments
2. Glenna Citron | 12.09.08
Today’s LA Times reports that workers in Chicago are refusing to leave the factory floor because Bank of America canceled their company’s line of credit and the company is now unable to pay the workers’ wages and severance pay. Governor Blagojevich, is in support of the workers, and “Illinois cut off business with the bank over the issue.” Is it coincidental that after taking such a radical stand, he is arrested by the FBI? His arrest will certainly make it easier for Bank of America, won’t it? The article pointed out that the billions going to banks are certainly not trickling down to Main Street. Will anyone be able to connect the dots? If we follow the money, who benefits?
4. Badtux | 12.09.08
Bogo was never a pal of Obama. Bogo in fact called Obama a ******** when Obama refused to give him a bribe in exchange for Obama’s favored candidate being appointed to fill the rest of Obama’s term. It’s speculated that Rahm Emmanuel, Obama’s chief of staff and a veteran of Chicago-style politics, is the one who narc’ed on Bogo because he was peeved at Bogo trying to shake down Obama for bribes. No love lost there, Bobby dearest…
5. mavisdarling | 12.09.08
Wow. I am (was?) and ardent Obama supporter. In a way, this is a good thing. It shows that our system of justice CAN work, since Blago is now behind bars. It also means that Obama REALLY, REALLY must rise to the occasion now; that is, IF Obama is honestly what he claims to be! How many times have we heard lately about some supposed “reformer” behaving worse that those he (or she) is railing against? There’s this governor up in Alaska, for instance…
Don’t let us down, Obama!! You are the one carrying the torch now! Obama, I hope you aren’t just a ’smoke and mirrors’ illusion after all! I am beginning to seriously LOATHE all politicians!! I’m a newly bi-partisan loather!
6. Steve | 12.09.08
I agree that this does not look good for any politician coming out of Chicago or Illinois, but somehow indicting Obama for Blago’s corruption because they represent the same state is a weak argument at best. If anything, Obama made the right choice in leaving Illinois politics and moving to an arena where change is possible (and possibly less expensive).
As a life-long Chicagoan, I am not surprised in least bit, due to both history and a fairly public investigation by the Trib. But it makes me wonder: is there some fatal flaw in Chicago/Cook County/Illinois which lends itself to rampant political corruption; or do we just get the “bad” criminals who are dumb enough to get caught?
8. Margaret Arendt | 12.09.08
Has it occurred to anyone he was testing the integrity of others in asking rhetorical questions to see who would be willing to try to make deals to keep them out?
9. WayneSMT | 12.09.08
Hmm, this sounds a little too convenient. Takes a stand on the side of labor. Refuses to mobilize the national guard to oust factory workers that are trespassing. Gets arrested by Federal authorities. I wonder how much time Republic Windows has.
10. Keti | 12.09.08
This is true serbian face. The US people belived and offered him the most important position to lead Illinois and he misused and betrayal people vote
12. vera | 12.09.08
One perusal of this individual’s face is enough to inform instinct–bad character, avoid. Something in Illinois tampers with common sense–people must not have the liberty to choose honest government.
13. Tom | 12.09.08
spare me dude, the GOP may not have a monopoly on insipid corruption, but they sure have the top market share. Let’s accept that there are immoral people on both sides and not pretend that somehow party affiliation suggests anything other than which side of the issues you’re on.
14. Will | 12.09.08
From the affidavit:
ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows
that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but “they’re not willing
to give me anything except appreciation. **** them.”
Apparently Obama is not interested in Blagojevich’s corrupt scheme.
15. Uncle Stinky | 12.09.08
I think it’s OK for him to charge for that!!! What do you think? You think he should just kindly (out of the kindness of his heart) ask someone to fill Obama’s vacant senate seat and then let that person reap ALL of the benefits for the rest of their life!!!? No!!!
I think that whoever the governor lets take over Obama’s senate seat should indeed give that man plenty of money, gold, silver or real estate (or all four) for allowing them to take over Obama’s vacant seat in the senate!
I see nothing whatsoever wrong with that! In your heart, you don’t see nothing wrong with it either! But everyone wants to act like they are sinless and pious, while they point the finger at other sinners!
The fact is, we’re all sinners and the governor should be left alone to manage his office of Gov. of Illinois just the way he wants to manage it. This whole story about arresting the governor because he expects to get rewarded for his ability to appoint someone to a senate seat is a bunch of crap! That’s why God hates lawyers, they send people to jail and prison for crimes against society while they (the lawyers) are doing the exact same crimes without receiving any punishment at all!?
16. Glenn.Lego | 12.09.08
Any body realize there’s more to Illinois than the Chicago area? However the political goings on in Chicago seem to give the whole state a bad name.
Never been able to understand that!
18. Mike from AZ | 12.09.08
Obama had nothing to do with this guy. After all the Gov called him a F….
I just dont understand the greed with some people. He held the most powerfull position in Il., and it still wasnt enough. Why do our politians sell this country out at every turn for their own personal financial gain as well as for more power. Why? This man needs to be made an example of and do at a minimum of double the time as Ryan. A message needs to be sent not just to Il. politicans but all across this country that if you sell us out you will be put away. Thank God he was caught and I applaud the FBI and anyone else that helped nail these goons.
19. troy | 12.09.08
com on people, maybe he was try to see if they had itegrity by giving him a bribe. It was the Fed. because he stood upi against a big bank, for a company that didn’t pay its bills. The man is a crook nothing more nothing less. Does BO have anthing to due with it, I don’t know. But when the prosicuter said Chicago is the most corrupt of all the state. It makes you wonder how dirty the other politicans from Chicago are.
20. Bob | 12.09.08
If these allegations prove to be true I hope this clown is put away for a very long time.
Also, while I am against the death penalty, I’d be willing to make an exception in cases of breach of the public trust amongst elected officials. I’d extend capital punishment to include lieing as well.
The public should have zero tolerance of public corruption, civil abuse, and even lieing among politicians at all levels.
21. Paul | 12.09.08
HI
I would like to know Why the president elect Obama is not being implicated in the wire tap case of the Illinois governor ?
this is what I found wile doing a search on Obama and Resko please watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85xQ_qAsVTc?
so my question why are we not connecting Obama to this case when the FBI has been investigating this for year’s as reporters stating today and Hillary Clinton stated during the elections? Rasko was receiving money from Obama when he was senator of illinois to fix up the slums Rasko owned? Why did the supreme court through out the New Jersey case about Obama”s citizenship, Is the supreme court also involved in a cover up will the truth ever be told!
Thank you for your time
23. Springfield | 12.09.08
Blago has been under the Federal microscope from the beginning. He’s an example of how Illinois Democrats operate inside their own party. Illinois has allowed the machine from Chicago & Cook County to foul-up everything in this state. BTW, there is no relation between his arrest and Republic Windows or Bank of America; he was just grand-standing as usual. Republic mismanaged their demise and illegally attempted to close it’s operations without giving the 60-day notice required by law. He was arrested because of numerous wire tap conversations and incidents that involved “pay-to-play”. This prosecution will easily take a couple of years.
24. Cynthia in Jacksonville | 12.09.08
This latest entanglement of Blagoyevitch demonstrates why we need to keep papers like the Christian Science Monitor and the Chicago Tribune on the case. We are sacrificing the fourth estate–our very own press–in favor of keeping SUV’s and oversized mortgage papyments. We need great press to root out the rumors and get to the truth. _Maybe_ the feds jumped on the jerk because of his call to boycott Bank of America, and it is most likely that Obama has had as little to do with the guy as he can (wouldn’t you avoid him like the plague if you were in office? the guy’s a menace!). Don’t let the Trib fall to bankruptcy! Don’t give up all paper editions of teh Monitor!
25. Kim | 12.09.08
He’s going to have some interesting things to say about politics in Illinois over the new couple of months. To be a politician from Illinois is to be DIRTY.
26. Jerry | 12.09.08
If you believe anything about Chicago politics is honest and straightforward, you probably need to stand in the Kool-Aid line. I lived in Illinois a long time, and if any official is elected by Cook County, you’d better believe he is a crook. More dead people vote in Cook County than anywhere else in the country. Ask Richard Nixon, who lost his bid to John Kennedy because of Mayor Daley and the crooks of Chicago.
27. Jerry | 12.09.08
Uncle Stinky you have such a twisted sense of the world. Do you still have the straight Jacket we loaned you?
28. stephen Beardsley | 12.09.08
Springfield has it right. Watch the GOP in IL foul up there chance to get back in the game as the clean government party. As the FBI special agent said today, IL may not be the most corrupt state but it sure is working hard to win the title (words to that effect). The pathology of this guy is staggering. I know they both had the same fund raiser (Rezco) but I don’t think Obama/Emmanuel will be quick to help Blago. That is unless Blago felt free to take such a risk thinking He would not be prosecuted because He had enough dirt on His rivals/friends that they would whisper in Fitzgeralds ear not to go there. I bet there are some Dems (and possibly Repubs. too) with sweaty palms over this one. Blago has lost the support of the most important union in the state–the teachers union– because of His shenanigans with TRS the teachers retirement system. Serves Him right. Hope he goes away for a long, long time. Sic Semper Tyrranis!!
29. Jack | 12.09.08
What’s left NOW in you bank account, “conservative”, after 8 years of conservative politics. You and 50% of the people in the US, have not a clue. The range of stupitity, us - them, right - left, liberal - conservative, only covering what is really wrong…… GREED, UNCHECKED GREED, EASE OF ABUSE OF POWER, and most importantly, ACCOUNTIBILITY!!!!
NO passes, NO pardons, NO hand slaps!!!!!! Abuse of power, is second sin, unto murder. ( And I didn’t need a bible to figure that out.) If we the poeple do not hold our elected officals, ACCOUNTIBLE for their abuses of power, than you and your 50% deserve what you get.
30. Connor | 12.09.08
I am deeply disappointed in Mr. Blagoyevitch’s conduct. I read some of the comments about the factory strike and how some people believe he’s getting arrested just for not breaking it up. Personally. I believe that is just some democrat BS trying to come up with an excuse for the overwhelming evidence supporting our governors corruption charge. Unfortunately for our states democrats, what Blago said and did is what he said and did.
33. Tom | 12.09.08
With the state’s prior governor, a Republican, serving time for corruption and the current governor, a Democrat facing similar charges, perhaps Illinois could become the birthplace of a new party–the Jailbird Party. Nice going, Ryan and “Blago”.
34. Adaasa | 12.09.08
Very interesting points raised here. Holding our elected officials accountable is what I agree with most.
Im still researching the whole Bank of America ordeal~seems like they aren’t giving money2any1.
No matter what office one holds (I.e. Home office or public).
I thought it was hilarious that the GOV called for a boycott!
35. max | 12.09.08
its not a matter of whether he’s a “pal” of Obama, that is all but meaningless. its a matter of the same group of people (illinois/chicago natives) electing a state official while failing to see through the BS. i’m not aware of Blogo’s past or how he was presented throughout his campaign for governor, but i’m sure he appeared squeaky clean…as obama has. so who’s to say the same mid-west folk haven’t steered us awry on Blogo and Obama as previously conceived compatible officials? i am a republican, probably always will be, but i am NOT a hater; Obama is to be our new pres, and i am on board entirely. i truly hope he can turn the tide of the nation, as well as on the truly scummy perception Chicagoan politicians have emitted!
36. Scott | 12.10.08
For those who feel this somehow taints the integrity of the president-elect it is part of the wiretap, the very case against him, that Blagojevichis complains about Obama’s LACK of corruption.
It is why he felt he had the opportunity to shop the appointment around.
37. George C. Thomas | 12.10.08
Governor Blago did not bribe anybody for the Senate. He was wire-tapped by the FBI planning to do so. In the privacy of my home, I once planned to kill all those whom I disliked but I never did so. Planning and carrying out corrupt plans are not the same. And what about presidential candidates who appoint their financial donors and buddies to high well-paid post after being elected? Is this not committing corruption as against Governor Blago’s corrupt plans which he had not acted upon yet? Wiretaps in the privacy of one’s home should be illegal.
38. rbird | 12.10.08
Talking about committing a crime seems a long way from actually doing it. It’s only until the cash is in hand that the deed has been done. At this point, it would seem that the Justice Department is acting as a type of ‘thought police’ and have acted far too early. My opinion is that the spokesman for the government was merely attempting to gain some television time for his own purposes.
39. PB | 12.10.08
Geo Thomas: Maybe you did plan to do those things in the privacy of your home - (who hasn’t?).
But that is totally different from telephoning someone and saying that!
40. Astrojazz | 12.12.08
The apparent greed across this great nation is the very reason our economy is going to **** in a hand basket. Wickedness of the wealthy and affluential has become very transparent. Change is taking place in a variety of ways. Those who are sensitive to such things have known this for some time. Even other nations are watching America very closely on pins and needles, because they too sense change in the air. Only the blind and deaf are astounded by our current events. Buckle your seat belts! There’s more to come!
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1. Bob | 12.09.08
There goes another Obama pal. Change? That’s what you’ll have left in your bank account, liberal buddy.