Illinois Governor arrested on corruption charges

Chicago Tribune:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges. Click here for the latest updates from the Breaking News Center.

A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.

Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general election to secretly record the governor, sources told the Tribune, and among their concerns was whether the selection process might be tainted. That possibility has become a focus in an intensifying investigation that has included recordings of the governor and the cooperation of one of his closest friends.

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There was evidence that Blogojevich decisions had a price in the Tony Rezko trial. So, it would not be surprising if appointments like the one to replace Obama in the Senate might also have a price. The timing of the arrest is interesting. It suggest to me they wanted to do it before the selected person was named in order to stop a corrupt process.

Chicago and Illinois politics have always had something of a swarmy character and this arrest will only add to that legacy. I think it also has the potential to embarrass the Obama administration.

The LA Times reports on the specifics of the alleged crimes.

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Blagojevich is accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy, including alleged attempts by the governor to try to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. Blagojevich also is accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.

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On the issue of the U.S. Senate seat that Obama resigned Nov. 16, federal prosecutors said they had numerous recorded conversations of Blagojevich discussing the merits of potential candidates, including their abilities to benefit the people of Illinois as well as the financial and political benefits he and his wife, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich, could receive.

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Prosecutors also alleged Blagojevich expressed feeling "stuck" as a sitting governor and spent a large amount of time weighing whether he should appoint himself to the vacancy—possibly to avoid impeachment and help remake his image for a potential 2016 run for the presidency. A recent Tribune poll found Blagojevich with a record low 13 percent job approval rating.

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Prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as secretary of Health and Human Services, secretary of the Energy Department or to an ambassadorship in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. An Obama spokesman had no immediate comment.

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While the media and the prosecutors have gone out of their way to say Obama is not involved in the case, it is hard to imagine they were not aware he was trying to do a deal.