FBI agents arrested Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday on federal corruption charges in part related to the selection of President-elect Barack Obama's successor, the U.S. attorney's office said. Federal officers took Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris -- also arrested on corruption charges -- into custody at around 6:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. ET) without incident, FBI spokesman Ross Rice told CNN. Each was charged with a count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and a count of solicitation of bribery, authorities said. The government says the two were "conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits" for the Illinois governor by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a U.S. senator to replace Obama. The Obama transition team is aware that Blagojevich is in federal custody, but has no comment, according to a senior Democratic source. The government also accuses Blagojevich and Harris of threatening to withhold state assistance to the Tribune Company -- the company that owns the Chicago Tribune -- in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field baseball stadium. The company also owns the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. In exchange for assistance, the governor and his chief of staff wanted the newspaper to fire Chicago Tribune editorial board members who were sharply critical of the governor, the government said. It alleged the two also sought to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions.Blagojevich and Harris will appear later Tuesday in court, the attorney's office said. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said Tuesday that it's "a sad day." The investigation into Blagojevich and Harris has been going on for several years, Rice said. Tuesday's arrests are "pretty much a culmination of that case," he said. "The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said 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." In a 76-page affidavit, federal authorities say wiretaps caught Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for himself and his wife, Patti. At times, he discussed obtaining a substantial salary for himself at a non-profit organization or an organization affiliated with labor unions, as well as placing his wife on paid corporate boards where she might make as much as $150,000 a year, the government said. During one recorded conversation, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and said he was "financially" hurting, the affidavit said. "I want to make money," Blagojevich said, according to the affidavit. The intercepted phone calls also caught the the governor and Harris discussing the possibility of the Tribune Company's obtaining assistance from the Illinois Finance Authority in efforts to sell the Cubs and the financing or sale of Wrigley Field, the government said. Blagojevich allegedly directed Harris to tell Tribune officials that state assistance would be withheld unless members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board were fired. The Illinois governor saw them as "driving discussion of his possible impeachment," the affidavit said. "Our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support," the governor allegedly said in one phone call. Reports from the Chicago Tribune last week said federal authorities were investigating the governor and were secretly taping his conversations -- with the help of his former congressional chief of staff, John Wyem. "I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me," Blagojevich told WLS-TV in Chicago on Monday, as he responded to the reports of wiretapping. "I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me." He added, "By the way, I should say if anyone wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it. I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly." Blagojevich, who turns 52 on Wednesday, is in his second four-year term as Illinois governor. His term ends January 2011. Before that, he served as a U.S. Congressman for Illinois' 5th district from 1997 until 2003, according to his online biography. He and his wife have two daughters. Blagojevich announced last month that he was forming a panel to review candidates to replace Obama's Senate seat. Several Illinois Democrats -- including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, a former congressional candidate who now serves in Blagojevich's administration -- have been mentioned as possible Senate replacements for Obama. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reacted to the news, saying "I talked to the governor a few days ago, of course, about the Senate appointment and of course I'm very disappointed." "Any time a high-ranking official, governor of a state like Illinois -- especially -- it reflects bad on government generally. I'm terribly disappointed and concerned," he added. When asked what Blagojevich's arrest means for the appointment of Obama's Senate successor, Reid said he wasn't sure. "I don't know. Maybe it means the lieutenant governor does it. I don't know." The state's last governor, George Ryan, was convicted in April 2006 on racketeering and fraud charges. Ryan reported to a federal prison in Wisconsin in November 2007 to serve a 6½-year sentence. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of the United States said it would not hear an appeal from Ryan. On December 1, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ilinois, asked President Bush to consider commuting Ryan's sentence, saying Ryan "has already paid a significant price" for his crimes. "George Ryan is 74 years old. He has lost his state pension benefits and a commutation will not restore them. He would emerge from prison facing economic uncertainty at this advanced stage of his life," Durbin wrote
Blagojevich allegedly directed Harris to tell Tribune officials that state assistance would be withheld unless members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board were fired. The Illinois governor saw them as "driving discussion of his possible impeachment," the affidavit said. "Our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support," the governor allegedly said in one phone call. __________________________________________________ another politician in favor of freedom of the press.
At times, he discussed obtaining a substantial salary for himself at a non-profit organization or an organization affiliated with labor unions, as well as placing his wife on paid corporate boards where she might make as much as $150,000 a year, the government said. During one recorded conversation, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and said he was "financially" hurting, the affidavit said. __________________________________________________ I'm glad the piece didnt actually call out the labor unions but rather said he was interested in a position with a organization affiliated with a labor union....what does that mean, an actual labor union or democrat sponsored legislative seat?
His name came up often in embarrassing testimony during the Rezko trial. How recent was he discussing taking money for appointing Obama's successor? To have done it after that trial would be ridiculously stupid.
Glad we elected someone cut from the same political cloth to the presidency. __________________________________________________ although obama is from chicago, i am going with what i am told from the media that vetted him during the election. empty space
This guy being a crook means that all Obama is a crook? You guys are sore losers. Would any of you like a tissue?
jesse jackson jr. might have an issue, it is reported that he may have been negotiating for that senate seat.
I hope to sweet clean baby Jesus that some of y'all did not go to the Unversity of Texas. If y'all did, then what the hell is going on at UT?
Fitzgerald said there was nothing that prevented the Governor from making the senate appointment unless he resigns or is impeached. So apparently the seat is still open for bidding.
I would think that with the money this guy is talking about and the type of people that he is working with facing Federal Charges, flight would be a real possibility.
Actually, the $4500 is a straw dog. He was released on his own recognizance. The amount might be $4500
It is very easy to identify the far right wingers. They're the ones with very, very sore vaginas. I anticipated this and bought stock in Vagisil a year ago.
