Highlights
Fitzgerald: 'New low' in Illinois politics
December 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich this morning because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.
Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.
The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution.
"The conduct w...
December 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich this morning because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.
Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.
The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution.
"The conduct w...
Fitzgerald: 'New low' in Illinois politics
December 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich this morning because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.
Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.
The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution.
"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said, quoting Blagojevich as saying the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away. ... I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden."
Fitzgerald called the corruption charges against Blagojevich "a truly new low."
Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal," Fitzgerald said.
The remarks came at a news conference to discuss charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich and Harris are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan.
Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterized Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption.
"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said. "Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."
Grant said he called Blagojevich about 6 a.m. and told the governor two FBI agents were outside his door and that they had a warrant for his arrest.
After initially asking, "Is this a joke?" Grant said, Blagojevich was "very cooperative."
Grant said the arrest of Blagojevich should serve as notice that "business as usual will no longer be tolerated. That selling your office for personal gain is a thing of the past."
Fitzgerald said the investigation into Blagojevich continues, but authorities acted today to avoid further harm taking place.
"I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy" and bring charges, he said. "I think that would be irresponsible."
Fitzgerald thanked the Chicago Tribune, which had been reporting on the investigation, for honoring a rare request about eight weeks ago not to report on certain aspects of the investigation that he said could have been jeopardized.
Tribune Editor Gerould Kern said today that the newspaper delayed publishing some stories at the request of the U.S. attorney's office during the course of reporting on the accelerating investigation of Blagojevich.
"On occasion, prosecutors asked us to delay publication of stories, asserting that disclosure would jeopardize the criminal investigation," Kern said. "In isolated instances, we granted the requests, but other requests were refused."
In the criminal complaint, authorities allege that Blagojevich and Harris sought to pressure the Tribune to fire editorial writers who were critical of his administration. Tribune Co. had been negotiating with the Illinois Finance Authority to purchase Wrigley Field as part of the company's efforts to sell the Cubs baseball team.
Kern said today he never experienced any pressure over the Tribune editorials.
"There was never an instance where I was contacted or called, where any influence at all was placed against me. There were no instances of that."
Kern said he became editor July 18 and since then there's "never been any hint of that. I was as surprised as everyone else when I saw that."
Kern said nobody from the Blagojevich administration ever contacted him about the editorials.
"I never got a complaint. I never got any contact whatsoever from Blagojevich, no complaint--nothing from inside Tribune Co."
Kern pointed out there were no staff reductions in the editorial board. "The facts are what they are."
-- Staff report
December 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich this morning because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.
Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.
The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution.
"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said, quoting Blagojevich as saying the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away. ... I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden."
Fitzgerald called the corruption charges against Blagojevich "a truly new low."
Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal," Fitzgerald said.
The remarks came at a news conference to discuss charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich and Harris are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan.
Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterized Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption.
"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said. "Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."
Grant said he called Blagojevich about 6 a.m. and told the governor two FBI agents were outside his door and that they had a warrant for his arrest.
After initially asking, "Is this a joke?" Grant said, Blagojevich was "very cooperative."
Grant said the arrest of Blagojevich should serve as notice that "business as usual will no longer be tolerated. That selling your office for personal gain is a thing of the past."
Fitzgerald said the investigation into Blagojevich continues, but authorities acted today to avoid further harm taking place.
"I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy" and bring charges, he said. "I think that would be irresponsible."
Fitzgerald thanked the Chicago Tribune, which had been reporting on the investigation, for honoring a rare request about eight weeks ago not to report on certain aspects of the investigation that he said could have been jeopardized.
Tribune Editor Gerould Kern said today that the newspaper delayed publishing some stories at the request of the U.S. attorney's office during the course of reporting on the accelerating investigation of Blagojevich.
"On occasion, prosecutors asked us to delay publication of stories, asserting that disclosure would jeopardize the criminal investigation," Kern said. "In isolated instances, we granted the requests, but other requests were refused."
In the criminal complaint, authorities allege that Blagojevich and Harris sought to pressure the Tribune to fire editorial writers who were critical of his administration. Tribune Co. had been negotiating with the Illinois Finance Authority to purchase Wrigley Field as part of the company's efforts to sell the Cubs baseball team.
Kern said today he never experienced any pressure over the Tribune editorials.
"There was never an instance where I was contacted or called, where any influence at all was placed against me. There were no instances of that."
Kern said he became editor July 18 and since then there's "never been any hint of that. I was as surprised as everyone else when I saw that."
Kern said nobody from the Blagojevich administration ever contacted him about the editorials.
"I never got a complaint. I never got any contact whatsoever from Blagojevich, no complaint--nothing from inside Tribune Co."
Kern pointed out there were no staff reductions in the editorial board. "The facts are what they are."
-- Staff report
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Did Obama team have contact with disgraced Illinois governor over open US Senate seat?
Associated Press WriterCHICAGO (AP) — Barack Obama insists he didn't have any contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich or anyone else who might have been scheming to sell the president-elect's U.S. Senate seat. But he has not yet given his transition staff the same...Tags: Valerie Jarrett, National Government, The White House, Richard Durbin, Local Elections
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Obama 'appalled' by Blagojevich scandal
Los Angeles TimesIt took three tries in as many days for President-elect Obama to roll out a strategy for defusing the crisis over Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged attempt to put his old Senate seat up for sale. In his initial reaction, Obama said he was "saddened''...Tags: Scott McClellan, National Government, The White House, Local Elections, Bill Clinton
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Quinn: Impeach now
Only a day after saying voters should decide the state's next U.S. senator in a special election, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn on Thursday offered a new idea: Quickly impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich so that Quinn can take over and make the pick. The suggestion...Tags: Regional Authority, Local Elections, Bankruptcy, Executive Branch, Government
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Name the Gov. Rod Blagojevich scandal
Every good scandal needs a good name. And the spectacular corruption allegations involving Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich deserve a better moniker than "Operation Board Games," which is what federal investigators chose when they began examining pay-for-...Tags: Baby Products, Games, and Toys, Games, Corporate Crime, eBay Incorporated, Game Playing
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Obama vows quick probe of contacts with governor
Associated Press WriterPresident-elect Barack Obama says he will release in a matter of days the results of an internal investigation into what conversations his aides and advisers may have had with embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The internal probe, which aides...Tags: Parliament, Regional Authority, National Government, Local Elections, Executive Branch
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Quinn grabs at reins, wants Blagojevich out
Tribune reportersSPRINGFIELD — Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn pulled a power play Thursday, calling on state lawmakers to immediately impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich so that he could quickly replace the governor and select Illinois' next U.S. senator. "It is an urgent matter,...Tags: Ronald Reagan, National Government, Emil Jones, Corporate Crime, Richard Durbin
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Blagojevich fundraiser held by Jackson allies Saturday
Tribune reportersAs Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to pick Illinois' next U.S. senator, businessmen with ties to both the governor and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage him to pick Jackson...Tags: Joliet, National Government, Corporate Crime, Medicine, Jonathan Jackson
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Calls to impeach embattled Illinois governor grow
Associated Press WritersThe movement to impeach Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is picking up steam almost by the hour, with voters and lawmakers alike demanding his ouster as the scandal-plagued politician boldly hangs on to power. The lieutenant governor joined a bevy of...Tags: National Government, Local Authority, Pat Quinn, Executive Branch, Government
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Ill. gov. mess puts attorney general in spotlight
Associated Press WriterShe is the daughter of the powerful Illinois House speaker, the state's first female attorney general and a rising star in the Democratic party. Lisa Madigan had a high profile long before Gov. Rod Blagojevich became engulfed in scandal, but the ongoing...Tags: Justice System, Georgetown, Corrupt Practices, Corporate Crime, North Carolina
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Ill. governor parlor game: Psychotic or political?
AP Medical WriterHe's accused of talking about an ambassadorship, a Cabinet post in the Obama administration, even someday running for president -- all while clearly aware of a federal corruption investigation hovering over his administration. "Wacko" is among the...Tags: National Government, Periodicals, Corrupt Practices, Corporate Crime, Executive Branch
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Obama decries 'politics as a business'
Tribune reportersBarack Obama on Thursday delivered a primer for the nation on the strange and often sordid universe of Illinois politics as the president-elect promised full disclosure—soon—of any contact between his aides and Gov. Rod Blagojevich's...Tags: National Government, Mike Lawrence, Local Elections, 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, Executive Branch
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Did Obama team have contact with Ill. governor?
Associated Press WriterBarack Obama insists he didn't have any contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich or anyone else who might have been scheming to sell the president-elect's U.S. Senate seat. But he has not yet given his transition staff the same clean bill of health --...Tags: Valerie Jarrett, National Government, The White House, Richard Durbin, Local Elections
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