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Governor of Illinois arrested on corruption/conspiracy charges

9 December, 2008 (11:07) | 2008 Presidential Race, Crime & Punishment, Politics | By: ricjames

Uh-oh.

Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper’s editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

I’m guessing the Governor won’t be making the selection of which person gets Senator Obama’s seat in the next Congress.

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Comments

Comment from Bob James
Time December 9, 2008 at 17:40

…and you’d be wrong. Amazingly, Blagojevich has the legal right and responsibility to appoint Obama’s replacement, unless the governor is dead, incapacitated, impeached and removed from office, or resigns. Since it’s unlikely that he’ll do the latter, and would be terribly suspicious if A or B occurred, we’re left with either a jailhouse appointment, or the Illinois legislature acting to prevent it. According to news sources, there is a fast-track bill moving through the statehouse that will will remove the governor’s ability to make such appointments while indicted. Which I think is a good move, and should probably have already been in place.

Illinois is an interesting state. The man that Blagojevich replaced, Ryan, is in prison as well, having been convicted in 2004 on corruption charges.

Ah, Chicago politics…

Comment from Ric James
Time December 9, 2008 at 23:51

And if the legislature passes the bill that you, yourself, mention then I won’t be wrong, now will I?

Comment from coffee fiend
Time January 7, 2009 at 04:30

Blagojevich has been so successful at making himself and his office look ridiculous that about a million people are now able to remember and maybe even spell his crazy name — that’s sort of like an accomplishment, right?