Illinois Gov. Accused Of "Crime Spree"

Rod Blagojevich Charged In Conspiracy To Peddle Obama's Vacant Senate Seat

(CBS/AP)  Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is free on his own recognizance after his arrest this morning on political corruption charges.

Federal prosecutors say the second-term Democrat was caught on wiretaps scheming to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for cash or a plum job for himself in the new administration.

Prosecutors are not accusing Obama himself of any wrongdoing or even knowing about the matter.

Blagojevich is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and solicitation to commit bribery.

He's also charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in an attempt to strong-arm the newspaper into firing editorial writers who had criticized him.

And Blagojevich is accused of engaging in pay-to-play politics: that is, doling out jobs, contracts and appointments in return for campaign contributions.

The governor's attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, says he doesn't know of any immediate plans for the governor to resign. Sorosky says Blagojevich believes he didn't do anything wrong and asks Illinois residents to have faith in him.

"We were in the middle of a corruption crime spree, and we wanted to stop it," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said, calling the charges against Blagojevich "a truly new low." He added: "The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave."

Federal investigators bugged the governor's campaign offices and tapped his home phone, capturing conversations laced with profanity and tough-guy talk from the governor. Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant said even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard, particularly since the governor had known for three years was under investigation for alleged hiring fraud.

"This is another aggressive move by Fitzgerald, who is best known for indicting and convicting Lewis Scooter Libby on obstruction of justice charges in the CIA Leak case," said CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen. "Fitzgerald is an excellent trial attorney as well, so the Governor and his aide really are in the thick of it now."

The FBI said in court papers that the governor was overheard on wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell the Senate seat for campaign cash or plum jobs for himself or his wife, Patti, a real estate agent. He spoke of landing a job with a nonprofit foundation or a union-affiliated group, and even held out the possibility of a Cabinet appointment or ambassadorship for himself.

"I've got this thing and it's (expletive) golden," he said of his authority to appoint Obama's replacement, "and I'm just not giving it up for (expletive) nothing. I'm not gonna do it."

Another alleged scheme was that Blagojevich would possibly rescind an $8 million commitment of state funds to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago after a $50,000 donation from its chief officer did not materialize, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

Blagojevich faces two counts: Conspiracy to commit fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and solicitation to commit bribery, which is punishable by up 10 years. He was released on his own recognizance.

He was the latest in a long line of Illinois governors to become engulfed in scandal. Blagojevich was elected in 2003 as a reformer promising to clean up after former Gov. George Ryan, who is serving six years in prison for racketeering and fraud.

John Drummond, who's covered Illinois politics for nearly half a century, told CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield that corruption in Illinois is about as normal as frost in January.

"Illinois is probably the heavyweight champion of corruption in that sense; we've had five governors that have been indicted in this state," Drummond said.

The charges against Blagojevich do not identify by name any of the political figures under consideration for the Senate seat, calling them only "Candidate 1," "Candidate 2," and so on. However, those being considered for the post include: Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Luis Gutierrez; Illinois Senate President Emil Jones; and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero had no immediate comment on the charges but issued a statement saying the "allegations do nothing to impact the services, duties or function of the state."

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Read The Criminal Complaint Against Blagojevich
Statement From The Department Of Justice

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The scandal leaves the Senate seat in limbo. Democratic leaders in Washington and Illinois called on the Illinois Legislature to quickly schedule a special election to fill Obama's seat rather than leave that power in Blagojevich's hands.

"No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement," said Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Some Illinois politicians immediately demanded that the governor step down or face impeachment.

[txgrouch2007]

You want retribution and I want good government.
Posted by mizzerz at 11:16 AM : Dec 10, 2008

Then I guess you''re out of step with THE MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS who just want to say "Bush is Hitler" and bash the GOP every chance they get.

Funny, I don''t see you criticizing THEM for "bad government."

[mizzerz]

Now that it''''s a Democrat''''s turn to get spanked, will they CENSOR THIS POST??????

Posted by txgrouch2007

I guess that is the difference between you and me. You want retribution and I want good government.

[txgrouch2007]

BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!
BLAGO IS A DEMOCRAT!

[txgrouch2007]

republicans on the other hand support their guy no matter what he says or does.
Posted by johndevinejr at 10:17 AM : Dec 10, 2008

Yes, I remember that. Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Marion Berry...

Oh, wait. Those aren''t Republicans. Why were Republicans defending them?

Oh, wait. Those weren''t Republicans. The were DEMOCRATS.

I think you made a type. You typed republican when you should have typed DEMOCRATS!!!!!

[txgrouch2007]

DUMBEST BA$**** ON THE PLANET
Posted by johndevinejr at 10:14 AM : Dec 10, 2008

Isn''t he a DEMOCRAT? I heard somewhere that he''s a DEMOCRAT.

What does it mean when a DEMOCRAT is now the "DUMBEST BA$**** ON THE PLANET?" I thought only Republicans could get that title.

Wow, the world really IS changing if that happens to a DEMOCRAT.

[txgrouch2007]

Yes Blago is a Democrat. However Ryan was a Republican and he was convicted of racketeering charges.
Posted by DJ_Houston at 09:49 AM : Dec 10, 2008

Didn''t Blago replace Ryan because he PROMISED to be more ethical? And now, he''s MORE CORRUPT.

Same as the guy who replaced Foley.

Why do Democrats have to LIE so much?

[txgrouch2007]

BTW: Is Blago Ruskie, or Pollock??
Posted by GoGWGo at 09:41 AM : Dec 10, 2008

I heard he''s A DEMOCRAT!!!!!!!!!

[txgrouch2007]

Now that it''''s a Democrat''''s turn ... will they CENSOR THIS POST??????
Posted by txgrouch2007 at 09:36 AM : Dec 10, 2008

Let''s count the minutes...

[txgrouch2007]

Let us agree on that. corruption is not a Democrat or Republican problem, it is a problem of the system
Posted by mizzerz at 09:31 AM : Dec 10, 2008


LOL! Did I hear you say "Bush is Hitler?"

NO WAY, JOSE! The libtards have divided and polarized our nation. They drove a wedge between the parties EVERY TIME they caught a Republican.

When it was DeLay or Frist, you NEVER heard them say "it''s not a Democrat or Republican problem."

You only heard "REPUBLICANS ARE SO BAAAAAD!!!!"

Sorry, it''s PAYBACK TIME!!!!!!!!!!

Time for the "Bush is Hitler" crowd to get A SPANKIN''!!!

Hey, the word "spank" appeared HOW MANY TIMES by gloating Democrats after the election?

Now that it''s a Democrat''s turn to get spanked, will they CENSOR THIS POST??????

[mizzerz]

THEY ALL GOT THE FREE PASS, and nothing really happened to them.


Posted by txgrouch2007

Kilpatrick plead guilty, marion Bary was convicted and served time. The others have been colored in the verbiage of political right wing rhetoric. I guess the right wing does not let their icons walk, eg; Oliver North, Foley, scooter libby, cheney, don young etc etc.

Hey..... Blago is a crook and should be gone. Let us agree on that. corruption is not a Democrat or Republican problem, it is a problem of the system