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The allegations against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (a Democrat; pictured), who is now in federal custody, are stunning. Trying to sell or trade President-elect Obama's Senate seat? Check. Shaking down a hospital for sick children? Check. Trying to influence the Tribune's editorial board? Check!
Chicagoist has some highlights of the U.S. Attorney's Office's complaint against Blagojevich (PDF). Here are two choice nuggets, involving using Obama's Senate seat for political gain:
"In regards to the Senate seat, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated “I’ve got this thing and it’s fucking golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for fuckin’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.” (pg 59)Blagojevich's chief of staff John Harris was also named in the complaint. Interestingly, Blago's wife Patti makes appearances in it as well (like telling him to tell a Deputy Governor to "hold up that fucking Cubs shit...fuck them" or getting her on corporate boards for six-figure fees).ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to "suck it up" for two years and do nothing and give this "motherfucker [the President-elect] his senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him." (pg 63)
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald held a press conference (highlights), referring to Blago's actions as a "crime spree," calling this a "truly new low" in politics and saying Lincoln would be rolling in his grave. Fitzgerald also emphasized that no allegations are being made against Obama or saying that Obama knew of anything the feds were investigating (there is mention of Tony Rezko, though). Some videos of Fitzgerald's press conference after the jump, but first, a nod to the "Chicago Way":
Fitzgerald's opening statement:
On selling Obama's Senate seat:
On Blago's pay-to-play politics:
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Blagojevich's got some really Kennedyesque hair going on there.
this has what to do with new york?
When a story is this awesome it doesn't have to have anything to do with New York.
He deserves to be convicted, because of that ridiculous hair.
Matty, your thoughts?
This is Chicago-style politics.
If Obama really managed to pass through this system without getting dirty, he's got the self-control of a saint.
If he did get dirty without seeming to, he's a political genius for the ages, and I will deeply regret having supported him.
Gee, does something appearing in the New York Times mean it's a "New York" story now? Or is it that pretty much everything in the world has some New York connection that makes it news for this site?
I don't get why you bother to call it Gothamist...
jen can't help her politics-junkie self
side note: who do i have to blow to get a senate seat?
I've got some friend in CHI who are glad to finally see him go down. It seems the whole state disliked him. I wonder if Al Sharpton or JJ will have anything to say: http://tinyurl.com/58e8y7
I hope Blagojevich goes to jail because I can't pronounce his name.
By the way, Matty's so embarrassed for his state, he's in hiding.
Matty musty have gotten lost in that luxurious mop of hair.
Apparently the last honest politician from Illinois was Abe Lincoln.
Makes Spitzer's time with hookers a little less interesting, eh? He paid for some tail. He isn't an extortionist and enemy of the state.
maybe, TVM, but even he frequented prostitutes
and what does this have to do with NYC? who cares! it's days like these when I wish I could go back to college so I could just sit in front of CNN all day. I am giddy as a schoolgirl with this story.
patrick fitzgerald is from NYC...
Something fishy on both sides of this
story and the timing by the Feds is suspect just
before Bush leaves office and Obama comes in with 76% approval.
More to come on this for sure.
However this Governor should step down and away till
his trial.
Be nice if the bailout scandals and sub-prime phony
loan mess could be so aggressively pursued by the
Fed .That's costing us big time money and jobs and
loss of respect as a country.
*ahem*
Sorry I was stuck in effing Naperville all day.
My only two cents is that this is absolutely indicative of the shamelessly corrupt political process here. I mean, it's embarassing. It would be one thing if it got things "done" but it doesn't. All blago has succeeeded in doing is holding up billions in capital spending plans for the past 4 years because he hates Mayor Daley.
If you want some real juicy shit look into the goings on that happened with Tony Rezko...the only reason that Rod has been indicted for this and not something way worse is because he hadn't been caught.
Politics is a full contact sport here.
Politics is lame. I go out in town here in Forest Hills get some food and more people are talking politics.
Corruption feeds politics and has always since the beginning of man. Dick Cheney and Halliburton, Obama and Rezco, special backroom wheeling and dealing.
Republicans and democrats arent exempt.
Remember this governor just like Obama worked with Mayor Daley.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Next thing you know, Obama will be indicted.
Corruption in politics is a neverending web. Always corrupt, all the time. Move on please.
Here's the main chicagoist artcile (they did like 5 today)
http://chicagoist.com/2008/12/09/feds_take_blago_into_custody.php#comments
Chicagoans are fucking Retahded! This dude sounds like Mayor Quimby from the simpsons but with an even worse boston/chicago 30's gangster accent! How the hell could you vote this motherfucker as governor. At least spitzer only fucked prostitutes and could speak english.
That's got to be a wig. I hope the U.S.Attorney's Office looks into that one as well. Speaking of which, I couldn't help finding that U.S.Attorney's exagerrated outrage as entertaining as anything I've seen on TV in some time. It reminds me of the cop that popped Sen. Larry Craig in the men's room ("But you're a U.S.Senator...you're supposed to be representing us.") And the best part is who gets to choose Obama's successor? Who out there isn't tainted by two crooked governors in a row? I think Caroline Kennedy needs to check into the Park View Hotel and get an Illinois driver's license.
"In regards to the Senate seat, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated “I’ve got this thing and it’s fucking golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for fuckin’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.” (pg 59) "
Between Rahm Emannuel and this fucker I can't fucking believe how fucking dirty our fucking mouths are in fucking chicago fucking.
Also DA BEARS.
And lastly, in the words of teh great, late mike royko, the City of Chicago's motto should not be "urbs in horto" (city in a garden) but rather "ubi est mea" or "where's mine?"
west side Michael:
There's nothing "fishy" about the timing, Blagojevich couldn't sell Obama's Senate seat until AFTER he was elected president. If BHO had lost, the Senate seat wouldn't have been available to sell.
Matty, thank you for bringing up Royko. So often these scandals come up and I wish Royko were around. John Kass is a poor, poor substitute. (I betcha Kass eats ketchup on his hot dogs.)