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Gov. Blagojevich arrested, pay to play scandal now includes Obama's vacant seat
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More culture of corruption.
The Chicago Tribune reports Illinois Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning:
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.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office, Blagojevich and chief of staff John Harris, were arrested on federal corruption charges including:
- 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.
According to CBS2Chicago.com, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:
- A substantial salary for himself at a 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 charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including tuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.
The criminal complaint is available here.
MSNBC's Pete Williams covers the breaking story in the following video report:
Don't forget Obama advised the Blagojevich Campaign and endorsed Blagojevich's reelection.
In the New Yorker, Ryan Lizza reported Obama's first high-level experience in a statewide campaign came in 2002:
That year, [Obama] gained his first high-level experience in a statewide campaign when he advised the victorious gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich, another politician with a funny name and a message of reform.
And to remind us once again about Obama's notorious poor judgment about those with whom he chooses to associate, Obama was willing to help Blagojevich despite the pay to play scandal.
