Illinois Gov. Blagojevich arrested on corruption charges
From Sunshine Review
December 10, 2008
At 6:15 am Tuesday morning, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris were arrested on charges for conspiring to sell President-elect Barack Obama's senate seat. In addition, the affidavit outlines a number of other charges against Blagojevich, including attempts to illegally obtain campaign contributions.[1]
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[edit] Affidavit
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the 76 page FBI affidavit charges Blagojevich and Harris with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and solicitation of bribery.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said, "The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering. 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."[2]
The day before his arrest, Blagojevich was joking about being recorded, "I think there’s nothing but sunshine hanging over me." He went on to say, "I appreciate anyone who wants to tape me openly and notoriously. And those who feel that they want to sneakily and wear taping devices, I would remind them that kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate."[3]
[edit] Selling a senate seat
Last month the Governor announced the creation of a panel to review candidates to fill the senate seat. Possible replacements include U.S. Representatives Jesse Jackson Jr. and Danny Davis, and Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth. However, it is alleged that Blagojevich was recorded on court authorized wire taps attempting to sell or trade the seat for personal and financial gain.
He has been said to have been entertaining taking the seat for himself, noting that such a position would put him in line for a run at the Presidency in 2016. On November 3 Blagojevich told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it." Later that same day he allegedly said, "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain." He also called the seat "a valuable thing -- you just don't give it away for nothing."[1]
[edit] Other Charges
The affidavit also outlines a call on November 10 between Blagojevich, his wife, and Harris speaking with a group of advisers. In the conversation Harris suggests an agreement with the Service Employees International Union, where the Governor would appoint a new senator helpful to Obama, and in return would be head of a group formed by the Union, Change to Win. Later on the Union would recived an unspecified favor from Obama.[1]
Blagojevich, Harris, and others have also been alleged to have illegally withheld state assistance to the Tribune Company related to the selling of Wrigly Field. The power move was to induce the firing of editoral board members who were critical of the Governor and his administration.
In addition, Blagojevich is charged with seeking $2.5 million in campaign contibutions by the end of the year, mostly from compaines and individiuals with state contracts.
[edit] Calls to step down
News of the Governor's arrest spread like wildfire throughout the county. Political leaders across Illinois, including the state attorney general, lieutenant governor and treasurer, have urged Blagojevich to resign.
The Illinois legislature plans to reconvene Monday to deal with the situation. At least 50 lawmakers have backed a draft bill that would create a special committee to investigate the Governor's possible impeachment. While the Governor has not issued any public comments, his lawyer said he denied any wrongdoing.[4]
[edit] Obama and his seat
The state House is expected to draft a bill calling for a special election to fill Obama's vacant seat, and could do so as early as Tuesday. As Blagojevich is still the sitting Governor, he could veto the bill, delay it by sending it back, or simply not act on it for up to 60 days.
In an interview Obama has said he did not discuss his vacant seat with Blagojevich.
“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening. And as I said, it’s a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”[4]
[edit] Vows to fight
Appearing at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago on December 19, the Governor insisted on his innocence. He vowed, “I intend to stay on the job and I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight, till I take my very last breath. I have done nothing wrong.”[5]
While railing against the "false accusations and a lynch mob," Blagojevich did not take any questions and failed to offer any defense to the charges brought against him. Although he has been "dying to answer these charges," he said he would wait until his day in court. He quoted a few lines from Rudyard Kipling's poem "If," and left the podium.
[edit] Increasing pressure
Minutes after his appearance, state Republicans continued their call for a special election to fill Obama's vacant seat, while Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn issued a statement, “On behalf of the people of Illinois, I plead, plead with the governor to step aside. There is no way Governor Blagojevich can in my mind fully protect the people of Illinois, their safety, their welfare. I think the people of Illinois are held hostage right now to this situation.”[5]
Meanwhile, the Illinois House began impeachment hearings this week, after an ever increasing number of lawmakers called for the Governor's resignation. The Illinois attorney general filed a suit with the Illinois Supreme Court, seeking Blagojevich declared unfit to serve, but it was dismissed without comment.[5]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chicago Tribune, Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe, December 9, 2008
- ↑ CNN, Illinois governor taken into custody, December 9, 2008
- ↑ WBEZ, "Nothing But Sunshine Hanging Over Me" Says Blagojevich, December 8, 2008
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 New York Times, Calls Mount in Illinois for Governor to Step Aside, December 10, 2008
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 New York Times, Blagojevich Denies Any Criminal Wrongdoing, December 19, 2008
