Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Taken Into Custody By BOA Feds
Yesterday, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich made news with “dangerous” threats about halting all state business with Bank of America until the Republic Windows & Doors fiasco is sorted out.
Today, Blagojevich learned the old rule: “Let he who is not under investigation for ‘staggering’ corruption cast the first stone.” The Chicago Tribune (which is still allowed access to ink and paper) reports:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested by FBI agents on federal corruption charges Tuesday morning….“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.”
Apparently, the government has a lot of the evidence against Blagojevich on tape.
An investigation years in the making, after the jump.
Authorities started investigating Blagojevich soon after he took office:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich became the state’s first Democratic chief executive in more than a quarter of a century after vowing to reform what he labeled the culture of corruption surrounding his predecessor that had fed deep cynicism among Illinoisans.But little more than a year after replacing George Ryan in office in 2003, Blagojevich found his administration at the early stages of what became a host of state and federal investigations into allegations of wrongdoing involving state hiring, board appointments, contracting and fundraising that battered his tenure.
Additional breaking news about the case is available from the Chicago Tribune.
And here’s the full criminal complaint (PDF).
U.S. v. Blagojevich & Harris [PDF]
Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, chief of staff, arrested [Chicago Tribune]
Timeline of the Blagojevich investigation [Chicago Tribune]
Illinois Threat to Bank of America Is Dangerous, Critics Say [Bloomberg]
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"Let he who is not under investigation for 'staggering' corruption cast the first stone."
That was funny. Good job.
WIll Winston do this one for free?
fartface
For Rod:
http://www.bombombombomwooooo.com/
which is worse? dreier or rod
Some of these reporters sure take their time acknowledging that Blagojevich is a Democrat.
So, how much did Obama's senate seat go for?
Change we can believe in!
According to the Trib, Blagojevich conspired to demand the firing of the Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co. This just made me a fan of Tribune Co.
8 agreed BUT WHY HAS NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ROBERT MOSES WAS A REPUBLICAN???
HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN 1934!!!
LOOK IT UP!!!
This guy sounds like a war criminal from Bosnia. Transfer his case to the Hague, stat!
the love gavel
he may be a corrupt bastard, but his Pride Parade floats proclaiming "ROD FOR US" were pretty funny.
ONE! TWO!! TWO COUNTS OF FRAUD!!!!!! AH AH AH AH AH!!
- Count Layoffula
Later on November 3, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Advisor A. By this time, media reports indicated that Senate Candidate 1, an advisor to the Presidentelect, was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was likely to be supported by the President-elect. During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, “unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], shit, I’ll just send myself, you know what I’m saying.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH later stated, “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.” Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”
Later on November 3, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Advisor A. By this time, media reports indicated that Senate Candidate 1, an advisor to the Presidentelect, was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was likely to be supported by the President-elect. During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, “unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], shit, I’ll just send myself, you know what I’m saying.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH later stated, “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.” Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”
does anyone give a crap about some TTT flyover state too far west of Manhattan?
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 “motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put 64 “[Senate Candidate 4]” in the Senate “before I just give fucking [Senate Candidate 1] a fucking 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 [is] how do we take some of the financial pressure off of our family.”
does anyone give a crap about some TTT flyover state too far west of Manhattan?
Wow, that complaint is FASCINATING. Straight out of "The Wire" stuff....
What I want to know..... WHO IS ADVISOR B?
DC law firm, you think??
Senate Candidate 1 = Jesse Jackson, Jr.?
Let this be a lesson for the nation that no one steeped in Chicago style politics should be elected to national office. (Oh great, what have we done!)
Typical corrupt liberal.
"The Chicago Tribune (which is still allowed access to ink and paper)." ??
Elie - was that a shot at the Chicago Tribune?
As a pseudo-journalist best known for rampant grammatical errors and piss poor editing are you really in a good position to criticize other journalists? I have no allegiance to the Trib, I just wanted to point out how outrageously arrogant that was of you.
The one who "won't give anything but appreciation. @#^@& that." is Jarrett.
Senate Candidate #5 apparently offered to buy the office. Wonder who that was...
18, how's looking for a job right now? NYC blows.
27 - Yeah, cause Chicago firms have been doing GREAT lately. Moron.
25 - I believe it was a way of mocking Rod's empty threats.
YES WE CAN!
count layoffula, this is out of your jurisdiction! doesn't anyone care about JUSTICE?
Does anyone actually live in Chicago? I thought it was just a spot on the map where planes sometimes refuel and kick off passengers that are too fat.
Yo 20, let's go get some Bloody-Marys on 24 and 5ht, then we can go play grown-up games in the back of my Jeta.
Also, shotgun you have to be the 'bumee'.
25 - The Trib just filed for bankruptcy. I thought that was the point of "still has access to pen and ink."
"Senate Candidate 1 = Jesse Jackson, Jr.?"
Nope. SC #1 is referred to a couple of times as "she".
25 - The Trib just filed for bankruptcy. I thought that was the point of "still has access to pen and ink."
20 Nick Nailored It!
also, Count Layoffula = nervous T-10 1L in disguise
Larry Craig appeal denied.
That guy has great hair. I'd totally do him.
so much depends
upon
a red-handed
borrower
15 why don't you shove one, two corn ears up your buthole?
so much depends
upon
a red-handed
borrower
william careless williams
Finally we're starting to see the Obama machine. But a little too late ....
28, faring A LOT better than NYC; 32, if by "live" there do people pay $3K for a studio apt? Then no, we have a little more sense than that.
I just found this on vault--it's basically the layoff chart we've been looking for (though it does also list non-law entities).
http://www.vault.com/companies/layoffs.jsp
25 = Sam Zell
One! One schtick that has already jumped the shark! Ah ah ah ah ah!
-bring back Nervous
I'm sure this is just a sham prosecution by those RethugliKKKan U.S. attorneys. We all know stunts like this are SOP for the Bush administration.
6 -- underrated post. bravo.
What's a Chicago?!?!?!
It sounds really fat and smelly.
50 - you are why we hate people from New York.
Standard operating procedure for Democrats in Chicago...it sure is a relief that we didn't elect a Chicago democrat to the presidency.
Oh, wait...we did?
Oh fuck...what were we thinking?
Oh, I remember now, hope, change, and the right skin color.
Had this been a republican -- his party affiliation would have been in the headlines. C'mon. We will never get beyond politics until all are treated equally.
Why wasn't this disclosed?
Who is ROD PAMPERS?
When Blago was on Jon Stewart, he said his favorite show is "That's So Raven."
I've hated him since that moment.
55 that is shocking and disturbing
8 - given that the last Republican mayor of Chicago left office in 1931, I suspect most people know without being told that the mayor of Chicago is a Democrat.
Republicans would never do anything like this.
-Ted Stevens
I love how the second he acts against a bank... the Gov goes for him.
We live in a free country!
P.S. - I know, I know, he's the governor, and I'm an idiot.
--57, slinking silently into a corner
"I'm not surprised. This is the result of the culture of corruption that George W. Bush has encouraged in this country over the past 8 years.
I can't wait to see every single one of these Republican crooks in jail."
Actual quote from a NYTimes Reader on this story
10 to 1 he's found not guilty.
From the complaint: "Defendants ROD BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, together with
others, attempted to use ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s authority to appoint a United States Senator
for the purpose of obtaining personal benefits for ROD BLAGOJEVICH, including, among
other things, appointment as Secretary of Health & Human Services in the President-elect’s
administration,...."
So - how does he do that without Obama-involvement?
57:
8 was referring to Blago being a Dem - he's the Governor of Illinois not the mayor of Chicago.
Federal ass-pounding prison!
@61 - It's not surprising that NY Times readers would be that confused. They have been reading the NY Times after all.
The guy has been under investigation for three years -- AND KNEW IT. And yet he still did this. He should get five years for corruption and an additional ten years for being stupid.
62:
If the trial is in Illinois, he doesn't stand a chance given his low approval rating and what happened to his predecessor.
Who is ROD PAMPERS?
57 - Blago is the gov, not mayor.
52 - You obviously don't understand much about Obama's history in Chicago politics. In Chicago, there are "machine" pols and "non-machine" pols. A generation ago, everyone came out of the machine, but now that's no longer the case. Blago is a machine guy all the way, Obama never was (which is why it took him a while to get traction in the Illinois Senate). Valerie Jarrett (Obama's close advisor, and "Candidate #1") refused to play Blago's game and ante up -- in what way does this mean that Blago's absurd corruption blemishes Obama? The two were never close.
And for the general Chi-town bashers - you are morons. Yeah, O'Hare is a nightmare, but so is Newark. Is NYC better? Hell yeah. Is Chicago still one of the best places to live in the US? Hell yeah.
Hey 65, how about we run a little dress-rehersal of what that might look like, but with just the two of us?
Call me. Don't pretend you don't like it.
Elie--- did you really write this post? It was very good. I can't believe it! good job you fat bastard!
Elie--take this list, paste it into excel, then rip out all the non-legal companies and then ATL can have its own chart.
http://www.vault.com/companies/layoffs.jsp
22:
Senate Candidate 1=Tammy Duckworth
63 is an idiot...
Obama didn't bite at Rod's attempt to influence him. Obama hired Tom Daschle to the DHHS Secretary position. That's how it doesn't involve Obama. Just b/c someone tries to exert force or influence over another person does NOT mean that the person who is the object of the attempted influence is involved.
The complaint is interesting.
1. Probably considered racist to notice and/or mention it -- but this is true diversity. You've got all the ethnics represented.
2. Love that Mercy Hospital getting a "CON" (certificate of need) is involved -- there's some nice irony or something in that.
3. I like interesting ATL stories that enable me to read things that LOOK like (in this case, are) legal documents so I appear to actually be working.
#70:
What's the murder rate in Chicago again? Ya, still sounds like a great place to live! "Hell yeah!"
74: right on. It's a "she" who's publicly "distanced" herself from the position.
President-elect Advisor=Rahm Emanuel
[the one discussed in Paragraph 112 and Blago's successor as Illinois 5th District Congressman]
Good point 77, I better move. I have such a huge chance of being murdered here . . . you fucking idiot.
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS,
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the female Obama advisor mentioned as Senate Candidate
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the female Obama advisor mentioned as Senate
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the female Obama advisor mentioned as Senate Candidate #1 is
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the female Obama advisor mentioned as Senate Candidate #1 i
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the female Obama advisor mentioned as Senate Candidate #1 is probably Tammy
I hope Pat Fitzgerald has more luck putting ROD in jail than he did with SCOOTER. But I guess its unlikely that Dubya is gonna pardon or grant clemency to ROD before the end of his term. He's too busy writing last minute executive orders....
PS, the female Obama advisor mentioned as Senate Candidate #1 is probably Tammy Duckworth, a
81-88: proves dems can't even use a simple button on a blog.
75: that may be true, but there is at least the potential for an appearance of impropriety, and certain opponents of the future-administration would love to dig into that as far as it will go. Why, they might ask, would the Democratic governor of Illinois even think that he had a chance of engaging in a quid pro quo with the president-elect? Because, they might say, someone involved with the future-administration gave Blagojevich the sense that this might be a possibility. Sure, this could be idiotic, but what's to stop an opponent of the future-administration from asserting something idiotic and creating a massive distraction (much as happened to Clinton)?
It amazes me to see the difference in the manner of coverage by the media of this case and the Ted Stevens case. I think every media outlet headlined the fact that Ted Stevens was a Republican. In this case, it is hidden somewhere down in the reporting and even then you can only guess that he is a democrat based on his allegiance to Obama.
It is also amazing that the media has completely dissociated Obama from this corruption - there is not even a mention of how Obama might be involved. If this were Bush and one of his menions, there would be several articles in the NYT "speculating" at how Bush MUST be involved, as well as other higher-ups. The media paints this guy as Judas among Obama's disciples and simply a rouge.
#73, that job is below Elie's paygrade...he doesn't handle anything that is relevant to ATL and things that most readers here care about. Now if you want a list of prospective Obama hires or a list of McDonalds that are open past 10PM in the DC area, that is a list that might warrant Elie's precious time.
26:
My guess is that Senate Candidate #5 is [former Illinois Senate Majority Leader] Emil Jones Sr.
It could also be one of the Illinois congressmen: Jesse Jackson Jr, Danny Davis or Luis Guiterez, I have no difficulty seeing Jones offering to pay for the Senate seat.
Jones came out publicly saying he wanted the job for the first time two days ago, which may have caused the immediate indictments [to stop him from getting the appointment]. While Blago would have gotten some pushback for appointing any of the others, the problems described in Paragraph 115(b)] sound like would have happened if he appointed Jones.
Jones is a tone-deaf hack who tried to keep the Illinois Senate from holding a "veto" session so that an "automatic" pay raise would go into effect [despite the House's vote to rescind the raise] and that ethics reform would not be enacted this term [despite a bill passing the House and awaiting a Senate vote.]
After saying "I deserve a pay raise", he chose to resign and appoint his son as his replacement.
I think Candidate 5 (the one who offered to pay up) might be Jesse Jackson Jr. On Dec 5, the Gov said he would meet with Candidate 5 in a few days. He met with Jackson on the 8th.
Can't WAIT to find out who Candidate 5 is!!!
CAN'T WAIT!!!
70 is in denial. Anyone who thinks Chicago is where it's at obviously hasn't been outside of Chicago much in his life. It's a blue-collar stink hole run by corrupt scumbags dressed in suits. And before any douchebag chimes in about how great Lincoln Park is, I gots news for you, it sucks unless you're 23 and fresh out of college...or that 35 y.o. loser who can't get on with his life.
If he hires me, I'll make the charges disappear!
Its magic!
Let me guess 97, you were raised in the Chicago area and have since moved to New York. Living in New York has expanded your horizons and made you such a worldly person that you must now refer to other cities as "blue-collar stink hole[s]."
1. Valerie Jarrett
2. Lisa Madigan
5. Emil Jones
97, Lincoln Park blows. Bucktown, Wicker Park, Andersonville and Lincoln Square all have far superior places to go.
97: I've lived in San Francisco, Baltimore, Chicago, New York, France, Ohio, Mass., and have travelled in dozens of countries and maybe 45 of the States. Chicago was only 3 years. New York has been the longest. I agree that Lincoln Park sucks, but there are a host of other neighborhoods are pretty sweet. And the cost of living makes up for a lot. A friend once said: "Chicago is the greatest American city, because New York isn't American, and Los Angeles isn't a city". There's some truth to that, although SF is clearly a better place to live than Chicago. But after NY and SF, I'd have to say that Chicago is where it's at if you like city life in the US.
- 70
Obama's role in this:
Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.”
Guys in my high school used to trade political positions for money all the time. It was no big deal.
#93, can we get that list of McDonalds' open past 10pm here in DC? Wendy's also kthnx
Obama and his people actually come off pretty well in the transcripts. It looks like they refused to play Blago's game; Blago calls Obama a "motherfucker" at one point.
Blago: Pepperdine's greatest JD?
Blago is a fall guy. Clearly, Bush is behind this. The Israelis too.
The real victim in all of this is Barry.
Once again the right wing media makes a mountain out of your run-of-the-mill political corruption scandal and chooses someone with ties to Barry to take the nations focus of tangible goals like HOPE and CHANGE.
I'm glad but not surprised to see that Obama has kept his nose clean and refused to do business with Blagojevich. Anyone who thinks this scandal tells us something new (and incriminating) about Obama or implicates him needs to read the complaint a little more carefully and stop being a dumbass.
shhhhhhhhheeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttt
Every political site seems to have Senate Candidate #5 (the one offering to pay. oops, raise funds) pegged as Jesse Jackson, Jr.
65: It's "Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison."
As in:
"We get caught laundering money, we're not going to white-collar resort prison. No, no, no. We're going to Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison."
If your going to seek cred by quoting cult movies, at least get the quotation right.
109, where are you from?
Purchase of a senate seat = "run-of-the-mill political corruption scandal?"
Wherever that is must be WAY cooler than Chicago...or you're a moron.
The love of money is the root of at least most evil.
104 - I went to Lane Tech too! *has tonnes of school pride right now*
#39 - love it!!!!!!
The real question is to what extent is the president-elect implicated by any of the cooperating witnesses in this case (which, according to the 100 paragraph affidavit of probable cause, includes Rezko).
That is all this country needs is another "Whitewater" investigation consuming $ millions, and distrating the country, and the president, from some very serious business.
Incidentlly, I have read the afidavit, and key evidence (TONS of it) comes from conference room wire taps and phone taps under court order.
116=best comment ever
108 - You might think that's a joke, but Bush is responsible. Bush stole an election, lied to the country to start two wars, destroyed a major American city, allowed the globe to warm to possibly unsustainable levels, then systematically bankrupted the entire country and passed trillions to his CEO buddies. Can't blame a governor for thinking a senate seat is for sale, and trying to keep a little for himself.
I hate New Yorkers. Ninety percent of you who read this website are displaced midwesterners, who did well enough your 1L year in law school to land a job in an expensive and filthy city, but now suddenly think you're hot shit because your zip code reads 100**.
Go fuck yourselves, and then get over yourselves.
Here's your Senate Candidates
1. Valerie Jarrett Deputy Governor
2. Lisa Madigan IL Attoreny General
3 Danny Davis Congressman IL-7
4 Luis Guttierez Congressman IL-4
5 Jesse Jackson Jr Congressman IL-2
6. Emil Jones IL Senate President
7 Jan Schkowsky Congresswoman IL-9
8 Dan Hynes IL Comptroller
9 Lovie Smith Chicago Bears Coach
10 Ozzie Guillen Chicago White Sox Manager
Yes they can name anyone they anyone they want where is John Cusack and Joan Cusack when you need them one them can Filled that Senate Seat Knock some Sense into this Politicial Environment a Wake Up Call It needs because Nobody here watches the Move On Ads featuring John Cusack, what makes me mad is that Fran Drescher can Fill the Senate Seat in New York, and John Cusack Can Not Fill the Open Senate In Illinois this is Bullshit, If BLAGOJEVICH Wanted to Include someone with Dignity and Class should be a local Celebrity No He wants an Elected Official, Celebrities like Arnold is Governor of California, and Jesse Ventura was Governor of Minnesota, Why not have one of those Cusack's to fill Obama's Open Senate Seat It make Illinoisans to Think Positive again, that's what we need.
This is just the start of it. The governor got caught because he was (a) stupid, (b) arrogant and the rest of the alphabet of adjectives describing greedy. Who knows how many other seats, elections, contracts and other things have been 'for sale' before this guy surfaced? That's the thought that stops me cold. Sure, we all know that there are certain givens in politics. The old "you give me something, I'll give you something" way of doing business. I hope it changes but doubt it will.