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Illinois’ governor taken into custody by FBI
.::BREAKING…SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES::.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested for attempting to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder as well as leverage state contracts and jobs to extort campaign contributions.
The FBI special agent in charge of the case called the governor’s pattern of corruption “a new low for Illinois.”
So it’s time to play everybody’s favorite game, “Name That Party!” (since the mainstream media seems to consistently fail to mention that Blagojevich is a Democrat)
(CNN) — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody on corruption charges, a law enforcement official said Tuesday.Rod Blagojevich is currently serving his second term as governor of Illinois.
Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois.
Both men are expected in U.S. District Court in Chicago later Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich, Harris and others conspired to gain financial benefits in appointing President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate replacement, according to the statement.
“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.”
According to the statement, Blagojevich is alleged to have discussed obtaining:
- a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
- a spot for his wife on paid corporate boards, where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
- promises of campaign funds — including cash up front;
- a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
The Obama transition team is aware that Blagojevich is in federal custody, but has no comment, according to a senior Democratic source.
The statement also alleges that Blagojevich and others tried to illegally obtain campaign contributions.
Blagojevich, Harris and others are also alleged to have withheld state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field. The statement says this was done to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members who were critical of Blagojevich.
Ace: “Just for fun, compare their curious silence on Blagojevich’s partisan affiliation with how they covered Ted Stevens.”
Kathryn Jean Lopez: “He is innocent until proven guilty, after all. But I don’t remember MSNBC analysts giving, say, Scooter Libby the benefit of the doubt.”
No media bias here!
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UPDATE: CNN has updated their story to now indicate Blagojevich’s Democrat affiliation.
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UPDATE: The Chicago Way, courtesy of the FBI’s transcripts of Gov. Blagojevich’s phone calls…
“I’ve got this thing and it’s f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f***in’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there,” Blagojevich said in a phone call secretly recorded by the FBI on November 5, the day after the election, according to the affidavit.
The FBI affidavit said Blagojevich had been told by an adviser “the President-elect can get ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s wife on paid corporate boards in exchange for naming the President-elect’s pick to the Senate.”
Told by two other advisers he has to “suck it up” for two years, the FBI says it heard Blagojevich complain he has to give this “motherf***er [the President-elect] his Senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him.”
Classy.
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UPDATE: Blagojevich is being released on own recognizance? WTF?
A federal judge in Chicago has ordered Governor Rod Blagojevich released on his own recognizance after the Democrat was hit with federal corruption charges.The governor was arrested at his home Tuesday on charges he conspired to sell or trade President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.
U.S. District Judge Nan Nolan said “Good afternoon, governor” in greeting Blagojevich at the afternoon bond hearing. The governor was wearing sweat pants, gym shoes and an athletic shirt.
He was released on a signature bond that specifies that he’ll forfeit $4,500 bond if he doesn’t appear in court. Blagojevich also was ordered to relinquish his passport and his firearm owner’s identification car.
Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT
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