Illinois Governor Arrested For Corruption

Along with Gov. Blagojevich, his chief of staff John Harris was also charged with the same crimes according to officials from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois.

According to federal prosecutors, Blagojevich, and Harris conspired to financially gain from appointing President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate replacement. In addition, Blagojevich, Harris and others not named also withheld state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field. Chicago Tribune editorial board members were fired when they became critical of Blagojevich.

Blagojevich and Harris will appear in U.S. District Court later today as they also answer to charges that Blagojevich tried to illegally obtain campaign contributions. The 51-year old governor is currently in his second term. Gov. Blagojevich was arrested around 7a.m. at his Northwest Side home this morning.

Gov. Blagojevich apparently felt it was his job to sell the now vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. The governor allegedly took campaign contributions up front in order to be considered for the Senate seat President-elect Barack Obama left open.

Federal investigators have been investigating Illinois politics for three years now on how the state hires for jobs. According to the affidavit obtained, Gov. Blagojevich was heard in a wiretap telling an advisor how he planned on benefiting from the vacant Senate seat:
On November 3, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Advisor A(an unidentified political advisor) .

By this time, media reports indicated that Senate Candidate 1, an advisor to the President-elect, was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was likely to be supported by the President-elect. During the call, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated, "unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], s--t, I'll just send myself, you know what I'm saying."

ROD BLAGOJEVICH later stated, "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself."

Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat "is a f-ing valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."
The governor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Just yesterday, Gov. Blagojevich addressed reports that federal investigators had recorded him as part of their investigation of state corruption. Blagojevich said then his conversations were "always lawful."

"I should say if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it," said Blagojevich on Monday. "I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily, and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate."
Reports are saying his right hand man, John Wyma, cooperated with the investigation.

A Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko is currently awaiting sentencing for a federal corruption conviction in which he was charged with shaking down businesses wanting to do state work for campaign contributions.