U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald calls the breadth of corruption laid out in the charges against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich "staggering."
Illinois government is taking yet another blow as Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff face charges of corruption.
Governor Blagojevich is free on bond tonight after FBI agents arrested him at his home on Chicago's North Side Tuesday morning.
U.S. Attorneys say federal charges accuse Blagojevich of trying to benefit financially from his ability to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, essentially putting a 'for sale' sign on that office.
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney said, "The Governor has taken us to a new low."
The FBI says wiretaps last month caught Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti. FBI officials say even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard on those tapes. The 76-page FBI affidavit contends that governor was intercepted on wiretaps last month conspiring to shake people down, and it alleges he even considered appointing himself if he wasn't offered anything of value. On the intercepted phone calls, Blagojevich also allegedly discussed getting campaign funds for himself or possibly a post in the president's cabinet or an ambassadorship once he left the governor's office.
Blagojevich is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.
Blagojevich is also charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to the financially-strapped Tribune Company which owns the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, prosecutors say Blagojevich wanted staffers at the newspaper critical of him fired.
The governor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The head of the FBI's office in Chicago says he woke Gov. Rod Blagojevich up with the news that he's facing federal corruption charges. Special Agent Robert Grant says he phoned Blagojevich at 6:00 a.m., told him he had a warrant for his arrest and that there were two FBI agents at his door. Grant says he told the governor he wanted to take him into custody as quietly as possible, and not wake his two young daughters or alert the media.
Grant adds that Blagojevich was asleep when the phone rang, and he says the Democrat's first comment was, "Is this a joke?"
Grant says he doesn't believe the governor's children woke up during the arrest, which came the day before Blagojevich's 52nd birthday.
On Monday, Blagojevich discussed the wiretaps. "I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly. I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful."
At a news conference in Chicago on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald reiterated a number of times that there were no allegations of impropriety on Obama's part.
Gov. Blagojevich is free on his own recognizance after $4,500 bond was set for corruption charges.
Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes is calling for Governor Rod Blagojevich to resign. Hynes, like the governor, is a Chicago Democrat. Hynes says Illinois can't afford a chief executive who is facing federal corruption charges. He says the state's budget crisis demands leadership and integrity. "Our governor cannot provide either," Hynes said in a statement Tuesday.
The man who challenged Blagojevich in the 2006 Democratic primary also says the governor should resign. Former Chicago alderman Edwin Eisendrath says that if Blagojevich won't step down, the Legislature should remove him.
Blagojevich's critics are calling for him to resign or face removal from office. Even if impeachment never materializes, the arrest further weakens Blagojevich, whose clout has eroded because of his poor relationship with legislators and lack of public support.
But Blagojevich's lawyer says the Illinois governor doesn't have immediate plans to resign and doesn't think he did anything wrong.
Meanwhile, there is the possibility of impeachment, but it would absorb huge amounts of the Legislature's attention at a time when the state faces a $2 billion hole in the current budget.
But the question remains if Blagojevich stays in office, will he still be able to appoint a senate replacement?
According to law, only the Governor can make that appointment...which means unless Blagojevich resigns or is impeached, he's still got the power for now.
By the way, we've received quite a few comments at www.connecttri-states.com. Be sure to log on to tell us what *you* think.
If convicted of corruption, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich would make the fourth Illinois Governor to go to prison in the past 45 years.
Otto Kerner, a Democrat who was governor from 1961 to 1968, served less than a year of a three-year sentence after his 1973 conviction on bribery, tax evasion and other counts. He was convicted of arranging favorable horse racing dates as governor in return for getting horse racing association stock at reduced prices. Kerner died in 1976.
Dan Walker, a Democrat who was governor from 1973 to 1977, served 1½ years of a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty in 1987 to bank fraud, misapplication of funds and perjury. The charges were not related to his service as governor.
George Ryan, a Republican who was governor from 1999 to 2003, was convicted of corruption in 2006 for steering state contracts and leases to political insiders while he was Illinois' secretary of state and then governor. He's serving a 6½-year prison term.
In addition, William Stratton, governor from 1953-1961, was later indicted but was acquitted on charges of income tax evasion.
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna is calling on Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign immediately now that he's facing federal corruption charges.
McKenna issued a statement hours after Blagojevich's arrest. He says the GOP is urging state lawmakers to act quickly to impeach Blagojevich if the Democrat doesn't resign.
McKenna says Blagojevich also must not appoint a U.S. Senator "under this cloud of extremely serious allegations." The governor has the power to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the Senate.
McKenna noted that those charged with crimes are presumed innocent. But he says "the people's work should be placed ahead of Governor Blagojevich's legal troubles."
One of Blagojevich's top picks to succeed President-elect Barack Obama's in the U.S. Senate appeared to be U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
On Monday, Governor Blagojevich said he was meeting with Jackson and described the Chicago Democrat as a "very strong" candidate. The son of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, the congressman was among several Illinois politicians mentioned as contenders. Before his arrest, the Governor would not say who was on his short list and he dismissed the notion that his pick would be tainted by the cloud of the federal investigation hanging over his administration. Just Monday, Blagojevich said there was no cloud hanging over him, only "sunshine."
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky says she was "absolutely shocked" to hear of the arrest.
And state Senator Christine Radogno calls this "a really sad day for the people of Illinois." Radogno pointed out that Blagojevich is the second Illinois governor in a row to face federal charges.
Biography:
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich was born Dec. 10, 1956 and is a resident of Chicago with his wife Patricia and two daughters. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1979 and received his law degree from Pepperdine University in 1983. He began his law career as an assistant Cook County state's attorney, prosecuting criminal cases.
He was elected the Governor of Illinois in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. Before that he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 5th District from 1997-2002 and served in the Illinois House from a North Side Chicago district from 1992-1996.
