Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody

Source: Chicago Tribune

A source said today that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information, and a spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,7997804.story


I can't tell if Blagovich is a crook, just a politician, or if he is getting Sieglemanned.

I knew he was a crook when I voted for him in the 2006 GE, but then again, so was Topinka.

I did vote against Blago in the primary.

I don't know if Topinka is crooked but we needed a Dem in office to appoint successors to either Obama or Durbin, either of whom in 2006 looked like they would be moving to the whitehouse in some capacity or another.

LOL
Current bid - $679,010.01
Ebay link

Is the appointment jeopardized? Is the Lt. Governor a Republican? I wonder, how is it they got him on tape, did someone set him up, or is this part of HS, and spying on everyone.

Personally, I've always thought one of the reasons Bush wanted to spy on everyone is for a sort of legalized Watergate, to get the dirt on everyone. It'd explain a lot about why Democrats haven't pursued any of the criminals, as I'm sure there is a lot of stuff in the closet that could be under threat of exposure.

Blagojevich may be crooked, but then what about some of the Republicans? How many of them have been indicted? Are the phones of outgoing Bush administration members being wiretapped as they arrange jobs on their ways out of the Bush administration? The whole Paulson give-away. How many jobs are being bought with that money? I am not in a position to know, but as long as they are wiretapping, I should think that the phones in the Dept. of Treasury and at the Fed would be a good place to start.

it sure seems that when the Dems are named/caught, they seem to be much more severely treated, both by the papers and the prosecutors.

And shame on those who did.

Pretty detailed - Fitz don't mess around. This guy's name is mud now; unfortunately, the rethugs can use that mud to throw at Obama.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01.pdf

He is entirely out of the loop eh?

Thanks :hi:

From fr, so you don't have to:

The evidence sounds strong as reported in the news media, but the news media, especially the Chicago Tribune, is extremely right wing.

We subscribed to the L.A. Times for years. I dropped my subscription after the Times fired Robert Scheer and refused for the longest time to publish anything about the Downing Street Memos or other facts that indicated that the Bush administration lied before going into Iraq.

Somehow, the Times talked us into renewing our subscriptions for the weekend. My husband likes to get the local news. But they are as bad as ever -- right wing, right wing, extreme, disgusting, can't read the paper it is so biased. Ronald Brownstein should retire already, for example.

The fact that Blagojevich does not cooperate with the Tribune shows to me that he is a fighter.

Have you ever wondered how Cheney got his position at Halliburton after years of government service? After all, aren't government bureaucrats allegedly incompetent?

The list of people in high government positions who waltz in and out of top jobs in big business or non-profits (think Libby Dole at the Red Cross) and get their wives into well-paid positions at the tops the boards of various corporations is very long. And trading jobs for campaign donations and favors goes way back. Blagojevich may have been very blatant, and I do not approve of what he did, but I reserve my judgment as to just how unusual he is.

Let's see how many of the incompetent refugees from the top positions in the Bush administration end up on unemployment? Want to guess a number? Now that would the pool to win. Remember Wolfowitz? I wonder where Browny went.

Is it corruption? Maybe. Did Blagojevich commit corruption? Possibly. But I don't know that his corruption is all that unusual. I wonder what kind of wheeling and dealing Bush has done to get his library going?

Blago has been dogged since he stepped into the governor's mansion. He succeeds a crooked, convicted repug governor and we know about the right wing eye for an eye mentality: If one of theirs goes down, they will take down a dem even if they are not guilty for perception and publicity's sake. Take Jimmy Carter who succeeded Nixon. Carter was dogged for Nixon's sins. Clinton was hounded for winning basically. And now governors are getting the same treatment--being run out of office and Dems being the object of witch hunts.

I see the "evidence" against Blago but what I also see is a governor being dragged out of his home at 6AM for the worst possible mug shot. If that's isn't a calculated publicity stunt I don't know what it because where was the governor going to be that he couldn't be arrested at say, 9AM or noon? He is the GOVERNOR. There is no risk of flight from such a high profile individual.

he's a crook and a liar. I know of what I speak. I hope they lock the little bastard away. :mad:

From the Chicago Tribune
TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE

Blagojevich's Senate selection process investigatedFederal probe widens to Obama's vacant seat
By Jeff Coen, David Kidwell and Monique Garcia | Tribune staff reporters
6:35 AM EST, December 9, 2008
UPDATE: Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody

A source said today that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information, and a spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.

Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general election to secretly record the governor, sources told the Tribune, and among their concerns was whether the selection process might be tainted. That possibility has become a focus in an intensifying investigation that has included recordings of the governor and the cooperation of one of his closest friends.

The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The specific contents of the recent recordings have not been disclosed. Blagojevich has said the appointment of a Senate successor, which is his choice alone, could come in a matter of weeks.

more:http://www.newsday.com/iphone/chi-rod-blagojevich-1209,0,4048252.story?track=rss

Sources: Blagojevich, chief of staff arrested and taken into custody


12/09/2008

CHICAGO -- The Associated Press is reporting that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on federal charges.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/689ECFC9A9106C0C8625751A00500C5B?OpenDocument


Blagojevich, chief of staff arrested on federal charges
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
December 9, 2008 - 8:40 AM
CHICAGO (AP) – Authorities in Chicago have arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal charges.

U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman Randall Samborn says both Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested Tuesday.

Authorities aren’t yet releasing details about those charges.

Federal prosecutors have investigated Blagojevich’s administration for at least three years. They’ve been looking at everything from how he hired people for state jobs to the actions of friends and contributors.

more:http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/arrested_21063___article.html/blagojevich_chicago.html

Source: Chicago Tribune


Source: Feds take Gov. Blagojevich into custody
December 9, 2008 at 8:26 AM | Comments (0)

A source said today that Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning. The U.S. attorney's office would not confirm the information.

A Blagojevich spokesman said he was unaware of the development. "Haven't heard anything -- you are first to call," Lucio Guerrero said in an e-mail.

The stunning, early morning visit by authorities to the governor's North Side home came amid revelations that federal investigators had recorded the governor with the cooperation of a longtime confidant and had begun to focus on the possibility that the process of choosing a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama could be tainted by pay-to-play politics.

Blagojevich was taken into custody hours after the Tribune reported that the investigation into allegations of pay-to-play politics within his administration had been expanded to include his pending choice of a Senate replacement for Obama. The Democratic governor has said he expects to make a decision on the state's next senator in weeks.

Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

.........been indicted and convicted it's only reasonable that a few (VERY few) Dems are corrupted also. I am originally from Il (54 yrs) and my understanding is this guy ain't liked by hardly anyone there.

.......national and regional governments over the last 30 yrs, the majority of "corruption" cases have been Republicans. My theory is that the people that run as Republicans are more "business types" and that thinking overflows into their political careers.

ability to be corrupt and to get away with it goes up the more power you have.

IF it turns out that the charges against Gov. Blago are legit than the justice department under an Obama administration needs to make an example out of him. Obama has to send a clear message to the our elected officials in general but to the Democratic Party in particular that corruption will NOT be tolerated. Last thing we need are a bunch of Dems following in the Repug footsteps and feeling above the law because they control the White House, the Senate and Congress now. If that happens you can bet that the Democratic majority won't last long and in the blink of an eye the Republican Party will be in control again.

I would heartily STFU with documentation provided, however. In the absence of actual documentation, I would assume a 49/49/2 split (R/D/Other).

and top jobs in big business. And remember Libby Dole at the Red Cross? I'm sure she was qualified but so were a lot of other people who had devoted their lives to non-profit work.

non- corrupt Dems are better at governing than non-corrupt Repos.

the Bush administration wallow in corruption the past and also watched the Siegelmen case and am, as a result, extremely skeptical when yet another Democrat is indicted while Republicans who are a thousand times more corrupt are indicted only when the corruption is so embarrassing that it is hurting the Republican Party at the polls.

Where are the indictments against the many, many, many, many Republicans in the Bush administration who have committed acts of corruption?

And where are Rove's e-mails? And why hasn't Rove testified in front of Congress?

the Obama camp helped bust the gov.

Anyway, I was basically generalizing

If nobody likes him it must be because they are scared of him and his connections.

gotta admire his chutzpah with the Bahama rental property and not paying tax on that income! And Pelosi agrees to leave him in charge of his tax committee.

Rod may be corrupt, but this is a partisan political witchhunt, and the new DoJ in January needs to find out why only Dems have been prosecuted during Rove's term as Resident.

Standing with the Republic Window workers yesterday. Pay back?

Ryan wasn't against the death penalty but suspended the death penalty to pump up public opinion hoping the DoJ wouldn't come and get him. Blago does not support unions or workers rights but stood there in front of the cameras supporting Republic workers hoping that the good publicity would stop the Feds from coming after him.

I wouldn't know Blagojevich from a hole in the ground, but if these allegations are anywhere near true, the guy should hang.

Illinios Govs will never finish their terms in office! I wonder if anyone will run next election! :rofl:

I wonder who our Lieutinent Gov is?

...........a Liberal. What I can remember of his early political career is that he pushed for liberal causes that were unpopular (in some circles) at the time.

He always seems like his meds are wearing off. I have had no problem with his positions on issues, though.

Just announced on WFLD-TV

I'm sick to my stomach

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

He may be crooked, I don't know, but I think he might be being Siegelmanned.

http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/620572.html

They (Bushco) don't even try to hide it anymore, do they?

:tinfoilhat:

:scared: :wow:

The day after he speaks out against BOA, he's arrested.

How convenient.

However, now I hear that Fitz is on this, so it may not be as untoward as it appears.

The timing is quite eerie though.

I imagine that every politician in this country has engaged in plenty of activities that would
warrant "being taken into custody." They've got the goods on nearly all of them.

My guess is that the trigger gets pulled when they step out of line.

Yesterday's tin foil: Today's America!

Everybody in Illinois politics is dogpiling on BoA.

This guy is manifestly a crook. He should have been in jail a long time ago. I read from other threads is that he was selling the Senate seat (or at least trying to get rid of Fitz through friendly Senate seat appointments (the senators get to choose the US Attorney).

so it was a pretty sure bet that they would come out now. Sometimes it seems to be a Liberal you must be convinced that anything and everything is a potential plot or conspiracy.

so I don't think it has anything to do with BoA. They've been investigating him for a while. They probably wanted to get to him before he gave away Obama's seat to the highest bidder.

Blago is crooked, from the tiny hairs on his toes to the mass of wavy hairs on his head. A very crooked corrupt man. We here all know this.

nanny to a state commission.

California has often been tagged as the “nanny state” for passing laws that some people say interfere with citizens’ lives. But now it has earned the label for a whole different reason, thanks to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Republican governor this week appointed a nanny – his own children’s nanny, in fact – as a part-time state regulator on the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Lindsay Ann Schnaidt, 32, a Democrat from Hermosa Beach who has worked for the Schwarzenegger family for seven years, will be paid $100 a day when the board meets, several times a year.

“She expressed an interest in serving the people of California like many other Californians do,” said Schwarzenegger’s spokesman, Aaron McLear. “The governor wants those interested in serving to have that opportunity.”

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/07/local/me-nanny7

As long as we are relying on the Chicago Tribune, might as well rely on the L.A. Times. This is just an example of Schwarzenegger's generosity to those who are loyal to him. As far as I know he faces no prosecution for rewarding his kid's nanny with this little boost to her income at taxpayer expense. Of course, maybe she has a lifelong devotion to seeing eye dogs. Maybe she even has a cousin who is blind. What do I know? But it still looks bad.

Thus far the accusations are that Blagojevich was willing to make an appointment in exchange for a non-profit job for himself and a board position for his wife when he leaves office and campaign contributions and that he refused to support the Chicago Tribune's sale of Wrigley Stadium because the Tribune did not support him. Let's see. Is that like not supporting the New York Times/Fox News's business dealings because of their offensive reporting about your administration(depending on which side you are on)? That may violate freedom of the press, but there must be something I don't understand if that is a crime.

Isn't there an allegation that the Bush administration was demanding certain political support from news media such as CBS News? Is anyone investigating that?

Is anyone investigating the Bush administration's granting of no-bid contracts to the former employer of Dick Cheney?

Blagojevich's acts may have been criminal, may not have been criminal. I don't see enough detail. These are broad allegations and discussions out of context. But, while Fitzgerald is playing the dedicated, no-holds barred prosecutor, why didn't he have the courage to call Cheney at Scooter Libby's trial?

Even if the indictment of Blagojevich is justified, there are bigger fish to fry, and Fitzgerald has had the opportunity to go fishing. He is very competent, but nonetheless another Republican hack in my view. Had he called Cheney to the stand, I would believe otherwise.

Is it possible that Fitzgerald indicted Blagojevich because Fitzgerald has to turn in his resignation in January along with all the other Republican federal prosecutors? This was his last chance to insure a career for himself after his prosecutor position ends. Does he fear having offended his potential future bosses by going after Scooter Libby.

Here in California some of the Republicans in Congress were caught red-handed and never indicted. The evidence was signed, sealed and delivered, but they were never indicted. The Republicans including Fitzgerald have gone after Democratic corruption with vengeance and left Republican corruption to go unchecked. I support clean government, but clean government starts with balance and love of justice, not political vendettas in the prosecutor's office. I would be more supportive of the Blagojevich indictment if I knew of similar indictments of Republican governors. I assure you, Blagojevich's conduct is probably not all that remarkable for people in governor's offices especially in certain areas of the country.

Meanwhile, back at the Dept. of Treasury, Paulson's friends in big banks and investment firms are all enjoying their stocking stuffers from the taxpayers. Jolly, jolly, ho, ho, ho.

Patrick Fitzgerald, Merry Christmas.

and welcome his indictment. You don't know what you're talking about.

I'm thinking of sending Fitzgerald a gift!

by corrupt POSs before Blago.

?

Blagojevich knew he was sunk when the fact that his conversations had been taped was released. His BoA announcement was nothing more than a stunt to make him look like a populist.

If he was targeted selectively because of statement about Bank of America, that would be wrong.

If that is the case, it may be targeted justice, where the crime is common, but only political enemies are singled out and prosecuted.

Simply put, if a person is only prosecuted because they have a political opinion against power.

That is the same thing as selling a Senate seat.

I am not saying he should not be prosecuted, I am saying that everyone that does the same thing should be equally prosecuted, or they are doing the exact same strong arm tactics as he has been accused of.

Does that make sense?
Selected justice is not justice, because it allows crime so that it can exert influence by picking and choosing which officials to target.

So prosecute him, and others that do the same thing.

However if nobody else in congress or state office is known to request newspapers to fire editors, or money for grants to hospitals, or the other things he is being accused of, this is a good day. Because then it would be justice.


They also said that the Senator that Mr. Obama recommended for the seat withdrew their application. This bodes well for that Senator and Mr. Obama, since it may indicate they refused to go along with what the allegation says the Governor was doing.

<snip>

Sources told the Tribune that investigators intensified their investigation into Blagojevich amid concerns that the process of choosing a new senator could be tainted. The actions by federal authorities came a day before Blagojevich's 52nd birthday.

The Tribune previously disclosed that federal investigators had recordings of Blagojevich. Those recordings were aided by the cooperation of longtime Blagojevich confidant and former congressional chief of staff John Wyma.

edit: We all need to hear these 'recordings'.

being recorded with the help of a close associate sends up some red flags with me. Having been in this situation myself, I know the cooperating associate is fed the proper words and subjects to click the trap shut.

On the otherhand, Fitz's involvement here makes me think there's probably plenty of fire producing the smoke.

I'd be extremely pissed at the guy for putting a cloud over Obama's inauguration and giving the Rethugs something to hammer with.

Also perspective can be out of balance. Hundreds of recordings trying to get one sentance, then that one sentance is all that is shown to people.

This is a common tactic. Imagine if one sarcastic remark, one off color joke, or one thing said in frustration is used to create your image with the public.

However I am not saying this is the case here. There seems to be a few indications of corruption they site. I have seen that also, when people work off of a script, gathering pieces of a different conversations, knowing that when they compile them together they will tell the story they want to tell.


I do still wonder if this could be targeted justice, and others that do the same thing are not procecuted unless they get power upset. That would be wrong, and would be a lack of justice.

I would guess when we also see the top executives of 'power', like banks, and other institutions also indicted(if they have done wrong), we will know people are procecuted for crimes, not to control their actions or speech, but for justice.

Targeted justice just isn't spoken about enough, the idea that if everyone is not held to the same law, then effectivly the law does not exist.

The Feds take their sweet time investigating stuff like this, dotting every i and crossing every t, and often take years in painstakingly putting their case together. They do *not* go around arresting state Governors without absolutely overwhelming evidence. So I think he's probably screwed.

CHICAGO — Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered all state agencies Monday to stop doing business with Bank of America to try to pressure the bank into helping laid-off workers staging a sit-in at their shuttered factory.

http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/620572.html

Blagojevich knew he was sunk as soon as it was publicized that his conversations were being recorded. He made his BoA announcement to curry favor with the public.

He wanted people to react to his impending arrest the way many posters in this thread are.

As if the Feds could throw together a quick fake corruption case, complete with plenty of manufactured evidence, on one day's notice. :eyes:

this coming right after his threat against BOA is creepy

Or are you not going to believe all the people on DU from Illinois and the Chicago area that have been following this all along and knew it was just a matter of time until he was indicted?

In fact, when my husband and I were discussing the Senate seat, we were also discussing it in terms of who we would to take over for Blago after he finally got nailed. (We liked Lisa Madigan, BTW.)

The man is a crook and deserves to be in jail. Do you want good, honest government or do you want to spread falsehoods to protect corrupt Dems.

Oh, yeah, and how they did with Libby Dole and all those Republicans who are in jail for hopping in and out of big business and government and getting campaign donations from business -- like Bush (remember his football club and energy companies), Cheney (Halliburton), Rumsfeld . . . . .

The list is long. I see how they are all rotting in jail.

spread than in the Democratic Party. First, there is more money in the Republican Party. Second, the Democratic Party is more grass-roots in its organization. Yet, the numbers of Republicans indicted is relatively small.

Interesting timing after the BOA freezeout - 'eh?

:banghead:


Moron!

That's just disgusting.

(if true)

Blago is corrupt
The Lt Governor is a bit fumbling but appears to be a good man.

Blago will probably try and tuff it out and keep governing. Let's hope not.

he had appointed Obama's successor. I hope he is not guilty, though.

The capital is in Springfield but the "state's business" is conducted in Chicago. Usually in back rooms on back streets. Things haven't changed much since Daley.

The corruption inherent in Chicago politics aside, all the US Attorneys more or less agreed to the agenda of the Bush administration and that agenda obviously was to take down as many prominent Democrats as possible. They got one governor so maybe they are trying to get another one while they still can.

And yes, Chicago is a huge part of this problem.

I fully believe they arrested him now because he intervened in the strike.

I don't believe that was a coincidence.

"Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009."

<http://cbs2chicago.com/local/rod.blagojevich.charged.2.883170.html>

The Department of Justice alleges that in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:

a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
promises of campaign funds — including cash up front;
a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator. The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public's interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions."

more:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/

I wonder how he's involved.

:shrug: Do you have the name of the person Blago was pushing?

The Department of Justice alleges that in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:

a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
promises of campaign funds — including cash up front;
a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator. The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public's interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions."

more:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/

And I wonder what he know about all this.

A very bad politician but a very best bud of Blago.

:puke:

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald.

Yeah, right, but he couldn't put enough evidence together in regard to the Bush administration and all the time and money involved in THAT investigation.

I have no respect for Fitzgerald.

Blagojevic may be corrupt, but not half as corrupt as the Bush administration.

Something else must be going on for them to make such a show of this arrest.

He was at that strike, among a couple other actions he's taken in the last few days, to drum up some support, because he knew this was coming. This was not punishment. These investigations take months. It's literally impossible that all these allegations were drummed up in 24h, and if there was a 'slow simmer' investigation going on, I doubt Fitzgerald would be willing to risk the conviction to hurry the indictments for political purposes.

Patrick Fitzgerald is a good guy, have a little faith.

It's no big deal. Lt. Governor takes over. Everything is fine. Blagojevich is scum, tons of people saw this coming.

If this is truly about bribery for Obama's recently vacated seat, why has he been under investigation by the FBI for 3 years (MSNBC reporting)??

And it is highly convienent that the day after he orders all state businesses to stop patronizing Bank of America, this happens...

That being said, if these allegations are proved true, he should get the maximum sentence for these crimes because corruption is corruption, democrat of republican.

Source: CNN

no link off home page yet..

DUPE - pls remove - sorry

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/

:eyes:

:rofl:

It's about fucking time.

Absolutely nothing.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/

Not much info, it's still breaking.

to do with the governor being (D) and appointing another (D) to replace Obama.

Could be a totally legit investigation and he may be totally corrupt, but when I heard this it just made me wonder. Same thing with the scandal with the NY governor (which was a victimless crime).

Blagojevich is as corrupt as they come, and the Lt. Governor is a Democrat.

It also has to do with him trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder or appointing himself for legal cover.

I just read the entire indictment - they've got enough recorded conversations from this bozo to convince almost anybody that he's a crook. People living in Illinois have known he was crooked since he was in Congress.

WHAT????????

Feds: Blagojevich sought to profit from choosing Obama's Senate successor
updated 3 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama's election as president.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

John Harris, the governor's chief of staff, was also charged, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

more:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28139155/

That just invites this sort of corruption (not that this is an excuse). It is also profoundly un-democratic. Whoever the Gov picks as interim senator gets a *huge* advantage when the election comes up.

Vacant seats should *always* be filled via a special election. Let the parties hold primaries, pick their candidates, and let the *voters* pick their own senator.

Blago is a victim of group think. They say he is corrupt for years and eventually everyone believes it. I'll bet the evidence is flimsy. He is being Sieglemaned.

Blagojevich is as corrupt as they come, and an egotistical jackass to boot.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

Read the conversation transcripts in the indictment - they're chilling.

He needs to spend some quality time in prison.

And yes, Blago has earned it!

always has been - from top to bottom and he is only a sample of it.

I smell a big Bush/Cheney rat here with the wiretapping right after the election. And wish Fitz would have been this strong on the whole Libby thing.

He's "only" been taken into custody.

Does he have to be arrested? Indicted? Convicted? Run through all his appeals?

Assuming he doesn't just turn matters over to the lieutenant governor.

Anyone know when/if he loses his vacant senate seat appointment power?

Source: Raw Story

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was unexpectedly taken into federal custody Tuesday morning on corruption charges related to his appointment of President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the Senate.

US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced the details of the charges in a press release (pdf) Tuesday morning.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," the federal prosecutor said. "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. The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public’s interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions."

The FBI arrested Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, on charges alleging that the governor essentially attempted to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat and tried to get members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board who had criticized him fired. The two were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud along with solicitation of bribery.


Full story available at Raw Story link...

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Reports_Illinois_Gov._taken_into_custody_1209.html

---

This story will be continually updated all day as further developements emerge.

-Diane

There has to be somebody on the other end just as STUPID. Even I knew the Feds were watching him.

They have watched him for 3 years. I don't doubt he's dirty. This is a very convenient time to

arrest him. I just think the timing is funny.

JJJ may want the seat, but from what I read in the first link he has distanced himself publicly.

A statement by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Grant said Blagojevich and Harris "allegedly conspired to sell U.S. Senate appointment, engaged in pay-to-play schemes and threatened to withhold state assistance to Tribune Company for Wrigley Field to induce purge of newspaper editorial writers."

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

"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," he added.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/09/report-illinois-governor-taken-federal-custody/

I want my money back for your flights home to Chicago from Springfield. I also want the money back for your makeup jobs. Both of which you illegally billed the taxpayers.

Makes you wonder how corrupt an Obama administration will be. Of course, it couldn't be anywhere near the past two administrations in that respect.

pat quinn is ok....

.............benefits for ROD BLAGOJEVICH, including, among
other things, appointment as Secretary of Health & Human Services in the President-elect’s
administration.

This is very concerning, who in the Administration was he trying to influence to get this post?

Seems like the Republican administration wants to influence the Illinois Senate seat choosing process in their own way, while getting their shots in while they still have a chance.

What a worthless piece of shit Blagojevich was.

Fits has him by the balls. He'll probably start singing soon to reduce his sentence.

I'm sure he knows where the bodies are buried in Chicago politics.

or will begin impeachment process immediately--source is CLTV-local Chicago tv network (Tribune owned, btw.) Andrew McKenna speaking now.

Wyma, the former chief-of-staff who cooperated with Fitz to nail Blagojevich with tapes, probably made a deal to avoid prosecution for whatever Wyma did.

Democratic party leadership--he started off sounding so "concerned", now, with the hosts' help,he is accusing the leaders of foreknowledge. This is going to be a dramatic few days in Illinois. No one seems to know how it will play out in terms of the Senate appointment. Speculation from the dean of a law school here says as long as he is still governor, he still has the right to appoint. We shall see.

The guys a crook, If the GOP could have put up a less corrupt candidate last time around
he would have lost, Same for an Independent. Good news is that a true liberal will now take the reins of power in Illinois.

Regardless of what the Bush Administration may have liked or wanted this is good.

Good for the Party in Illinois and good for all Illinois residents, So lets not circle this
wagon, He’s not worth our sympathy, He’s a crook, Period
We should stand behind him in the same way he stands behind other Democrats
In other words, Not at all.

Once again, Cudo’s to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Hell of a job Fitzy

My only concern is that it does not go into the Obama Administration
But Remember, It was only last week that Obama made the statement about
Chigago Politics, Could be he knew that this was going down.

If the Republicans could have gotten their act together for five minutes and nominated someone with an ounce of charisma who could have campaigned on an anti-corruption platform with a straight face, they would have won easily. Hell, I'd have considered voting for a moderate, competent Republican over Blago in a heartbeat.

Instead, they put up Topinka and Birkett. What a bunch of fools.

The transcripts are indeed stunning. Here's my favorite line:

Blago said he knew the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. (Fuck) them".

Blago said if he couldn't get anything of value for the seat, that he would simply appoint himself.

What a scum ...and to think he replaced a Republican scum.

and go straight to jail...

Because it's not like he's not corrupt to the core.

There is a long list of people through out history.
Until we have a revolution, it will just continue.
Welcome to Amerika.
Peace

They have never had a nice thing to say about him. They have always complained the he chooses to live in Chicago and flies to Springfield for the business of governing. Not the best example to set, IMHO.

I'm not sure you should be bagging on locations anywhere else...

:-)

Born and raised and I can tell you this part of the state is anti Democrat no matter who it is. This will certainly not help things . . . sigh . . . it makes me ashamed to be from Illinois.

Central Illinois--you know, where the governor refuses to live--has typically been Repug. And will be more so now.

People from Chicago assume anything below Springfield is southern Illinois or "downstate". I am 70 miles east of St. Louis so that is considered south central Illinois but still southern Illinois. Anything below Effingham (1-57)is generally considered southern Illinois but the people who really live in deep southern Illinois consider themselves to be the true southern Illinois population. They are generally more connected with the southern culture due to their proximity to Kentucky. With all that said, if you read the Southern Illinois newspaper, it is blatantly Republican and slants newsarticles in an accusatory way any time it can and people who post of their website are very right wing to the point of being obnoxious. So I would safely say that southern Illinois in general is pretty much Repblican territory. Just drive around here and see all the pick up trucks with Bush-Cheney bumper stickers. This group is largely concerned that a black man is going to be president and they think he is going to take away all their guns. Sometime I think I was born in the wrong place.

mining unions and AfSCME in the prisons.

MAking me assumed he will not be missed, correct?

The Bush corrupt DOJ does not prosecute anyone based upon their degree of corruption. If that was the case, there are plenty of Republicans starting with Bush, Cheney and Rove who should be under special investigation or indictment. The DOJ is used like a Mafia enforcement division. Yesterday, Bank of America was threatened. Today, the Gov. of Illinois disappears. There is nothing hard to understand about that.

The direction is just the opposite. When Blago found out he was to be indicted, he tried to make some populist headlines the day before.

It gave them extra incentive.

another senate seat.....remember Spitzer!

From the criminal complaint...

Count one

From in or about 2002 to the present, in Cook County, in the Northern District of Illinois, defendants did,
conspire with each other and with others to devise and participate in a scheme to defraud the State of Illinois and
the people of the State of Illinois of the honest services of ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, in
furtherance of which the mails and interstate wire communications would be used, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Sections 1341,1343, and 1346; all in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1349.

Count Two

Beginning no later than November 2008 to the present, in Cook County, in the Northern District of Illinois,
defendants ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, being agents of the State of Illinois, a State government
which during a one-year period, beginning January 1, 2008 and continuing to the present, received federal benefits
in excess of $10,000, corruptly solicited and demanded a thing of value, namely, the firing of certain Chicago
Tribune editorial members responsible for widely-circulated editorials critical of ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH,
intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with business and transactions of the State of Illinois
involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more, namely, the provision of millions of dollars in financial assistance by
the State of Illinois, including through the Illinois Finance Authority, an agency of the State of Illinois, to the
Tribune Company involving the Wrigley Field baseball stadium; in violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Sections 666(a)(1)(B) and 2.

The Lt. Gov. of Illinois is a Democrat.

The governor of a state is arrested at his home the day after he endorses striking workers and criticizes BofA.

Just a coincidence right?

Gotta love this "post partisanship." Unfortunately, one side in the battle did not get the memo and will be fighting as ferociously as ever.

You have cause and effect backward--Blago pulled a political stunt because he knew the clock was ticking on this investigation, in an attempt to curry political favor.

Looks like it worked with some people.

I understand your point.

The reaction here would be no different were it not true.

Let's say that he was pandering to the public - hoping to get public support by what he said. If that issue, why do so few of our Democratic party officials use that sort of approach?

Because it's disgustingly cynical?

Has jack shit to do with his activities yesterday and EVERYTHING to do with a a five-year-old public corruption investigation of pay-to-play schemes, including insider-dealing, influence-peddling and kickbacks involving private interests and public duties.

Blago was dirty as hell when he got elected the first time and has behaved badly since that time. This is not some GOP conspiracy, this has nothing to do with "da man" keeping the workers down, this is about a corrupt pig who finally got caught.

Trust the IL folks on here--we have been here to see it and fight against it.




Laura

I maintain that were he being sincere, the same debates would be happening here.

Blagovich has been under investigation and suspicion for a long time. This arrest was not orchestrated overnight because somebody got cheesed off. It has been a long time in the making. Looks like Blagovich earned it, many times over.

Good grief.

Not to follow the example of Wing Nut Republicans by defending
even the most obvious of Crooks, Pervs and Traitors.

As a Democrat in Illinois, There is nothing to be ashamed about.

Remember, The last Governor here is in prison too, And for any
Wing Nut to try and make hay with this issue they only need to be
reminded that Gov. Ryan was a Republican.

So sadly, Neither party has a lock on integrity.

Support Fitz, He’s one of the good ones, He’s doing all of Illinois a favor
by rooting out corruption wherever he finds it, Republican or Democrat
and that's good for all of us.

Stay cool and stay nonpartisan on this issue, It’s Corruption

It’s an Illinois Thing :)

I was born in Illinois and spent most of my life there. It doesn't matter what party they belong to, if they end up in the Governor's mansion, the next stop is often prison.

Kerner, Walker, Ryan, and now probably Blagojevich. I am never surprised when I hear of corruption indictments in Springfield anymore. Absolutely bizarre. It is evidently a job qualification.

I don't know how Obama escaped the political dirt in Chicago, but I'm glad he did.

They thought they would get something on Obama. They won't even use absolute language that Obama had nothing to do with it. Never trust the Bush (In)justice Dept.

Imagine an even bigger mess if this came down AFTER somebody was in Obama's senate seat. I don't even want to think about it--it's like a Scorcese movie as it is.

And it seemed like the investigators were upset over the governor trying to take back money from the children's hospital.

governor since some time in 2007! (Quinn is a great guy!)

Maybe Rod will be like David Vitter and get a round of applause when he goes back to work.

Blago is as corrupt as they come, has been under investigation for years, and the timing of this complaint actually benefits Democrats (as opposed to being just before the election or just after he appoints a replacement for Obama).

EVERY Bush DoJ prosecution is political. Hate radio and Cabal "News" will spend from now util inauguration talking about Obamagojevich. The leak arrest also comens during the same week that * is going to pardon his entire administration. Watch and compare the air time spent on this vs the air time spent on the entire Bush crime syndicate.

seems they were trying for a two-fer.

Question: How many bugs you think there are in the White House?

Senate Candidate #1: Either Jan Schakowsky (my personal choice)

Senate Candidate #2: Tammy Duckworth

Senate Candidate #3: (?) Maybe Jesse Jackson, Jr. or James Clayborne

Senate Candidate #4: Dean Martenez (Deputy Gov. of Illinois)

Senate Candidate #5: Emil Jones

Reading the complaint is like playing Who's Who....

The attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said the governor will be vindicated and he has no plans to resign.

“He didn’t do anything wrong,” attorney Sheldon Sorosky told reporters after Blagojevich was arraigned. “A lot of this is just politics.”

Blagojevich should be in the office Wednesday, Sorosky added.

So, reporters asked, he does not intend to resign?

“Not that I know of, no,” said Sorosky, who added that the governor was “surprised” by the day’s events.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16383.html

I will say that for him--his hair makes him look fifteen years younger than his actual age.

Source: Chicago Sun Times

snip> Rod Blagojevich said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to "suck it up" for two years and do nothing and give this "motherf***er his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him." Rod Blagojevich states that he will put "" in the Senate "before I just give F***ing a F***ing Senate seat and I don't get anything." (Senate Candidate 4 is a Deputy Governor of the State of Illinois). Rod Blagojevich stated that he needs to find a way to take the "financial stress" off of his family and that his wife is as qualified or more qualified than another specifically named individual to sit on corporate boards. According to Rod Blagojevich, "the immediate challenge how do we take some of the financial pressure off of our family." Later in the phone call, Rod Blagojevich stated that absent getting something back, Rod Blagojevich will not pick Senate Candidate 1.

Harris re-stated Rod Blagojevich's thoughts that they should ask the President-elect for something for Rod Blagojevich's financial security as well as maintain his political viability. Harris said they could work out a three-way deal with SEIU and the President- elect where SEIU could help the President-elect with Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Senate Candidate 1 to the vacant Senate seat, Rod Blagojevich would obtain a position as the National Director of the Change to Win campaign, and SEIU would get something favorable from the President-elect in the future.



Gov. Blagojevich free on bond after being arrested by feds


Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321610,blagojevich-calls-obama-expletive-120908.article

---

Here are my guesses:

Senate Candidate #1: Either Jan Schakowsky (my personal choice)

Senate Candidate #2: Tammy Duckworth

Senate Candidate #3: (?) Maybe Jesse Jackson, Jr. or James Clayborne

Senate Candidate #4: Dean Martenez (Deputy Gov. of Illinois)

Senate Candidate #5: Emil Jones

Reading the complaint is like playing Who's Who....

:eyes:

The corpse of Al Capone?

Why did he get re-elected?

:shrug:

A former Chicago Alderman and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kendall College.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_gubernatorial_election,_2006

WTF? He must have been pretty lame to lose to this crook.

none of them are aligned and there seem to be some strong egos who don't mind ruining things for others in their own party. I for one have enjoyed the spectacle that is the Illinois Republican party. Blag skated in on George Ryan's horrible corruption.

I remember Blag from the grocery store in my neighborhood. He was the US rep from our district and a decent normal guy.

Illinois has had a string of corrupt govs in office. What the hell is it about the Ill Gov office? Does it corrupt people who started out decent or were these guys already corrupt and they are drawn to the office. Either way, we are cursed. After Ryan people really looked to Rod to fix things. So disappointing.

snip>
Patti Blagojevich: Hold up that f***ing Cubs s***
During the call, Rod Blagojevich's wife can be heard in the background telling Rod Blagojevich to tell Deputy Governor A "to hold up that f***ing Cubs s***. . . f*** them." Rod Blagojevich asked Deputy Governor A what he thinks of his wife's idea. Deputy Governor A stated that there is a part of what Rod Blagojevich's wife said that he "agree with."

:crazy:

ended up in the DCFS system his budgets have done so much to destroy.

Schakowsky or Duckworth?

That explains a LOT!!!

Shows a lot of class

bribes through her?

publicly polite and honest, but privately foul mouthed and corrupt.


it's unbelievable to me that even knowing he was under FBI scrutiny, he blatantly tried to "Sell" the senate seat for personal gain. I'm amazed. He's either very arrogant or very stupid. Sounds like both.

repub Governor. I prefer the sex scandals myself.

that Duckworth was Obama's pick for his seat?

They laid a wreath at Arlington.

She is undoubtedly Rahm's first choice.... :eyes:

has obviously been absent in the party for the last couple of years - I for one want him prosecuted for this if he did it?

Attorney: Blagojevich has no plans of resigning
By: Carol E. Lee
December 9, 2008 05:13 PM EST

CHICAGO— The attorney for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said the governor will be vindicated and he has no plans to resign.

"He didn't do anything wrong," attorney Sheldon Sorosky told reporters after Blagojevich was arraigned. "A lot of this is just politics."

Blagojevich should be in the office Wednesday, Sorosky added.

So, reporters asked, he does not intend to resign?

"Not that I know of, no," said Sorosky, who added that the governor was "surprised" by the day's events.

More: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16383.html

this is one desperate man!

Yeah... basically every other Governor from IL has gone to prison.