Jump to content

Rod Blagojevich officially facing federal corruption charges


Steve9347
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 523
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Trib is continually updating the article.

 

Most recent update:

 

Updated at 9:17 a.m.: Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list, made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or received taxpayer benefits, from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year's end.

 

Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged.

 

The complaint repeatedly references conversations secretly recorded by federal authorities.

 

The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Patrick Fitzgerald's Statement

 

Regarding the Senate seat, the charges allege that Blagojevich, Harris and others have engaged and are engaging in efforts to obtain personal gain, including financial gain, to benefit Blagojevich and his family through corruptly using Blagojevich's sole authority to appoint a successor to the unexpired term of the President-elect's former Senate seat, which he resigned effective November 16. The affidavit details numerous conversations about the Senate seat between November 3 and December 5. In these conversations, Blagojevich repeatedly discussed the attributes of potential candidates, including their abilities to benefit the people of Illinois, and the financial and political benefits he and his wife could receive if he appointed various of the possible candidates.

 

Throughout the intercepted conversations, Blagojevich also allegedly spent significant time weighing the option of appointing himself to the open Senate seat and expressed a variety of reasons for doing so, including: frustration at being "stuck" as governor; a belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor; a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016; avoiding impeachment by the Illinois legislature; making corporate contacts that would be of value to him after leaving public office; facilitating his wife's employment as a lobbyist; and generating speaking fees should he decide to leave public office.

 

In the earliest intercepted conversation about the Senate seat described in the affidavit, Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A on November 3 that if he is not going to get anything of value for the open seat, then he will take it for himself: "if . . . they're not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it." Later that day, speaking to Advisor A, Blagojevich said: "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain." He added later that the seat "is a [expletive] valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 09:55 AM)
This guy is delusional! He thinks a governor that had 10% approvals could eventually be president?

Truly he is. I mean seriously - a governor with a 10% approval rating, who is under federal investigation, and can't get along with either party... and he thinks he could run for President?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People say you can tell a man's character by what he says/does when he thinks no one's looking:

In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them."
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 10:29 AM)
So I presume Pat Quinn is now the Illinois Governor?

Actually no... well, not as of the moment.

 

Quinn was on WGN this morning and was asked this same question. Basically, the legislature has authority to temporarily transfer power for medical reasons or in an emergency, but I dont think it's clear with regards to indictments. He said if Blogo is found guilty, Blogo automatically looses his job per Illinois law.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 10:47 AM)
What a great Cubs fan. I can improve the park that my "favorite" team plays in, but not until you fire or suspend some of your editorial writers.

 

What a f***in moron.

I'm SHOCKED you brought the Cubs into this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (Soxy @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 10:48 AM)
My mom works for DHS/ORS and she said that everyone in her office is positively giddy. Apparently they are considering ordering a cake.

Springfield may get a holiday off today for this news. They all HATE his guts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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."

 

You mean I'm not supposed to take bribes for this? What a bunch of f***ing bulls***!

 

:lolhitting :lolhitting :lolhitting

Edited by lostfan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...