The U.S. attorney’s office would not confirm the information, and a spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a phone call for comment. Click here for the latest updates.
Allahpundit calls this “Staggering.”, and asks “Is this the single dumbest racket ever attempted by a major politician. He knew the U.S. Attorney’s investigating him, he knew he couldn’t trust his cronies — and yet he was still willing to talk openly about selling a seat in the United States Senate?”
On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate.
Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of 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.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.
“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement.
CBS2 Chicago has highlights from the FBI affidavit:
Throughout the intercepted conversations, Blagojevich also allegedly spent significant time weighing the option of appointing himself to the open Senate seat and expressed a variety of reasons for doing so, including: frustration at being “stuck” as governor; a belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor; a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016; avoiding impeachment by the Illinois legislature; making corporate contacts that would be of value to him after leaving public office; facilitating his wife’s employment as a lobbyist; and generating speaking fees should he decide to leave public office…
In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat [This is certainly Valerie Jarrett. -- AP] but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them.”…
As recently as December 4, in separate conversations with Advisor B and Fundraiser A, Blagojevich said that he was “elevating” Senate Candidate 5 on the list of candidates because, among other reasons, if Blagojevich ran for re-election, Senate Candidate 5 would “raise[] money” for him. Blagojevich said that he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Blagojevich with something “tangible up front.”
Politico wants you to Meet Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn , the man that will take the reigns from Blag!
Quinn will likely make the choice of who fills Obama’s seat. He has a bit of a reputation as a reformer, if not a pure one, but I haven’t heard a particularly clear read on what this means about the seat — Illinois readers, tell me what you think.
A tough time for Democratic governors, in any case: The two biggest states with Democratic governors, New York and Illinois, now both appear likely to be run by the Lieutenants.
Fitzgerald: Blagojevich engaged in “a political corruption crime spree”; Update: What did Team Obama know? Update: Did Rahm sink Blago?
Obama: I never talked to Blagojevich about the Senate seat; Axelrod: Yes, he did; Update: Blago won’t resign
Sweet catch by Tapper, showing why he got that promotion. Obama today…
“I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening, ” Obama told reporters today in Chicago. “It’s a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”
…versus Axelrod on November 23, as seen below. Be sure to read Tapper’s post, as he has plenty more on The One’s long history as a friend of — and advisor to — Blago. Axelrod himself begged off Blagojevich’s first gubernatorial campaign because “I was concerned about whether he was ready for … governing.” Not so Obama and Emanuel; they both served as advisors, and they and Blago went on endorsing each other to the bitter end.
ABC’s Ross: Governor Blagojevich Called Obama A ‘Motherf***er’
Did Rezko provide the information that may finally dismantle the fabled Chicago Machine?
Am I being naive to think that maybe, just maybe, the states are wising up to the fact that the people need to clean up their government?
Michelle Malkin has more
Update: Politico reads Blago’s statement that he wanted “something real good” and “valuable” in return for appointing Jarrett as a suggestion that he was hitting up the Obama campaign for cash. I’m not sure where they’re getting that; it could just as easily mean an appointment of some kind, which probably wouldn’t be illegal so far as I know. This bit from the complaint is interesting, though:
HARRIS said they could work out a three-way deal with SEIU and the President-elect where SEIU could help the President-elect with ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s appointment of Senate Candidate 1 to the vacant Senate seat, ROD BLAGOJEVICH would obtain a position as the National Director of the Change to Win campaign, and SEIU would get something favorable from the President-elect in the future.
We’ll have to wait until next Fitzmas, I guess, to find out if they ever went to Team Barry with this idea.
Update: Unsurprisingly, Blago suddenly appears to be a man without a party.
Update: Blagojevich’s approval rating as of mid-October was … four percent. No typo.
Update: An intriguing theory from Ben Smith: Did Team Barry yank Jarrett out of contention for the Senate seat because Blago approached them with an improper offer? CNN reported on November 9 that she was The One’s choice to replace him; just a day later, he’d suddenly decided that he wanted her with him in the White House after all.
Update: Ambinder speculates that Senate Candidate 5 is Jesse Jackson Jr.
What the transition knew — The transition hasn’t yet responded to questions about Rod Blagojevich’s indictment, but the key question is whether the transition was talking to prosecutors, whether Obama and Valerie Jarrett knew that Blagojevich had offered her the Senate seat in exchange for a labor job …
Scroll for Updates:BREAKING: State Of Illinois Refuses to Do Business with Bank of America Because Republic Windows & Doors Was Denied Loans Due To Deadbeat Status
The two faces of Patty Blagojevich
Snort-worthy: First Lady Patricia Blagojevich announces December selection for Children’s Reading Club as How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Blago, Rezko, and infrastructure corruption
Look for the union label: Who’s the SEIU official who talked with Blago?
CROOK COUNTY: GOVERNOR, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST...
Federal probe widens to Obama's vacant seat, Illinois Gov...
'A fu**ing valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing'...
Wiretaps: 'I Want To Make Money'...
MERRY FITZMAS: Plame Leak Prosecutor Turns Attention on Obama's Home State...
'The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering'...
Isn’t That Nice: Caroline Kennedy Will Settle On A Senate Seat
Linked with
- BREAKING NEWS: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Arrested on Corruption Charges! « Jane Q. Republican
- The Rod Blagojevich Drinking Game « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- SHOCKER: Chicago Politician Is Corrupt « The Forum
- Obama Suppporter Democrat Illinois Governor Blagojevich Arrested By FBI | Stuck On Stupid
- BelchSpeak » Post Topic » Illinois Governor Frog Marched for Selling Obama’s Senate Seat
- Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler » Hmmm… This Could Get Interesting
- Rezko to Sing « Combating Moonbat News
- 10-07-08 | Drive Time Happy Hour
- Gues Who’s Gonna Start Snitchin’? « Beltway Snark
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Feds arrest Illinois Gov. Blagojevich for trying to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat
- Ace Of Spades
- The Jawa Report
- http://michellemalkin.com/2008/12/09/corruptocrat-alert-blagojevich-taken-into-custody-by-fbi-conspired-to-selltrade-hhs-position-stifle-newspaper/ « Goodtimepolitics
- Gov. Rod Blagojevich Arrested by FBI Agents « Goodtimepolitics
- SHOCKER: Chicago Politician Is Corrupt « The Forum
- Another Obama Pal does the Perp Walk « The Liberty Boys
- Stuck On Stupid
- Obama Suppporter Democrat Illinois Governor Blagojevich Arrested By FBI | Stuck On Stupid
- Bloodthirsty Liberal » Just Another Person in His Neighborhood
- Is it too much to ask for the guy’s political party in the headline?
- IL Governor Going Down « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- Cold Fury » Chicago machine house of cards collapses
- Another Wrench Thrown Into the Chicago Political Machine « Trust, But Verify
- Bloodthirsty Liberal » Just Another Person in His Neighborhood
- Democrat=Socialist
- Does The Blagojevich Bust Count As A Ricochet Near Obama? | Democrat=Socialist
- The Other McCain: FBI arrests Obama ally
- Another Wrench Thrown Into the Chicago Political Machine « Trust, But Verify
- This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » Blog Archive » This is what corruption looks like
- Governor Blagojevich (D-IL) Arrested | Axis of Right
- And Obama’s first pardon goes to… UPDATED « musings from the disloyal opposition…
- Musing Minds » Blog Archive » Blagojevich Arrested!
- Political Party Poop
- Elephant Owners » Blog Archive » Corruption in Illinois. Surprised?
- The Irascible Chef » Chicago Politics—Change We can Count on!
- No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » It’s Fitzmas! (now complete with indictm…er, criminal complaint)
- Ace of Spades HQ
- light leaks » One more thing
- Mike Ditka for Illinois Senate « JoHNBRoDiGaNDoTCoM
- Michelle Malkin » Corruptocrat alert: Blagojevich taken into custody by FBI; conspired to sell/trade Senate seat, HHS position, stifle newspaper; Team Obama contradicts itself
- Obama: “I never spoke with Blagojevich”; Axelrod: “Obama spoke with the office of Governor Blagojevich” « Trust, But Verify
- Uh…Oh…: Obama Says one thing, Axelrod says another…. | Political Byline
- The Mud Pit » Democrat Governor Arrested For Corruption UPDATED Not Resigning?
- Blagojevich and OJ – Stubris Clowns « Grand Rants
- Recommeded Diaries » And the fun with Blagojevich has just *started*. ::
- Governor accused of “selling” Obama’s seat (updated) | skewred.com
- Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Gov Arrested… Barack Obama’s Arrest Is Probably Not Far Off… : P.U.M.A
- As Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevic is arrested, is Barack Obama next? : P.U.M.A
- WO’s Daily Roundup | Without Objection
- Recommeded Diaries » And the fun with Blagojevich has just *started*. ::
- Governor accused of “selling” Obama’s seat (updated) | skewred.com
- Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Gov Arrested… Barack Obama’s Arrest Is Probably Not Far Off… : P.U.M.A
- As Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevic is arrested, is Barack Obama next? : P.U.M.A
- WO’s Daily Roundup | Without Objection
Discussion: MSNBC, Power Line, Mere Rhetoric, Scorecard’s Blogs, BloggingStocks, The Strata-Sphere, TigerHawk, NewsBusters.org, Taegan Goddard’s …, The Reaction, BuzzFlash.org, Hotline On Call, Political Machine, First Draft, Gateway Pundit, Lost in Transition, Don Surber, Sunlight Foundation, Tennessee Guerilla Women, AMERICAblog News, Wonkette and Real Clear Politics
MoJoBlog, MyDD, Washington Monthly, Washington Post, Right Wing News, Wizbang, Don Surber, The Raw Story, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Note, RedState, Below The Beltway, On Deadline, New York Times, the albany project, QandO, Cold Fury, Media Blog and Vodkapundit
Ben Smith’s Blogs, marbury, Portfolio, Chicago Sun Times, Roger Ailes, The Caucus, Centerfield, Maggie’s Farm and Group News Blog
Fox News, The New Republic, Gawker, Pajamas Media, Left in the West, Daily Kos, Riehl World View, Blogs of War and Romenesko
Democracy in America, Pajamas Media, Brian Beutler, Alas, a blog, Associated Press, Reason, The Foundry and Towleroad
NewsBusters.org, Connecting.the.Dots, Swords Crossed and The Other McCain
While I won’t claim any gift of clairvoyance or some self-centered claim of psychic awareness…..I have to say that I’ve been saying for about three years that the day would come when the FBI would take this sleazy snake oil salesman into custody. It is a sad day for the people of Illinois as well as the majority of government workers for this state who do their jobs as efficently as possible only now to have their very existence tarnished by a chief executive who only knows about corruption, dishonesty and gross betrayal of the public trust.
Kudos to the Federal Government for finally taking action against this manipulative political zero. I wholeheartedly agree with senator Dick Durbin that President-Elect Barack Obama’s senate seat should be decided by an election by the people of the State of Illinois. Additionally, impeachment proceedings should begin at once against Blagojevich. Let’s end his circus performance now.
Wow, this is a good one. What a slimy pile of crap. I love America. In other countries this guy would be in power for decades and his son would become the next king.
How long do you think his “friends” allow him to stay in office?
I think his ”friends” are starting to jump ship as we speak.
Blago was too close to Dear Leader. That’s the reason this went down so fast. Its going to be amazing and who was talked to and who ponied up the money for this Senate seat. This the red pill leading down the rabbit hole… its going to be interested in who else this brings down… please let it be Dear Leader.
I think you are right..I just put up the time line..please take a look..
This is yet another glaring example of the Republican Culture of Corruption! It is out of control!!! There is NO end to it!!!
Oh, wait…he’s a Democrat…uh, you know, ummm…
But Robert, how do you know what party he is from, the Nets have kept that from the public!
Pam, I know he is a Democrite because in all of the press coverage, I never heard one mention of his party affiliation. Now if he was a Republican, EVERY time his name was uttered it would be “Republican Governor _______, or Governor ______ a REPUBLICAN”. The MSM would make sure everyone knew it.
I know you knew this; I went through it anyway for the benefit of anyone surfing by who has lost the ability to think and reason for themself (or maybe never had it, being from Gov’t schools).