He was susequently indicted Thursday, April 2, 2009, on charges he engaged in a "wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government."

A federal grand jury handed down the 19-count indictment against Blagojevich, his brother, two former aides and two businessmen. It accuses Blagojevich of corruption involving billions of dollars in state pension bonds.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

The affidavit said Blagojevich discussed getting a substantial salary for himself at a nonprofit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions.

It said Blagojevich also talked about getting his wife placed on corporate boards where she might get $150,000 a year in director's fees.

He 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.

"I want to make money," the affidavit quotes him as saying in one conversation.

U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a statement that "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," Fitzgerald said.

Among those being considered for the post include U.S. Reps. Danny Davis and Jesse Jackson Jr.

Obama said he was "absolutely certain" there was no involvement with the alleged dealmaking.

The governor ignored calls for his resignation and retained the power to appoint Obama's replacement. He exercised that power Dec. 30, 2008, by naming Roland Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, to fill the seat left vacant by Obama, even as impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich were in progress.

The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, to impeach Blagojevich, an unprecedented action that set up a Senate trial on whether he should be thrown out of office.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, following his four-day impeachment trial, the Illinois Senate voted to remove Blagojevich from office. His successor is Pat Quinn.