Breaking news from Daley-land:
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.
Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both men were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
You mean the Lightbringer’s Senate seat was… for sale? Well, it’s not like there were any irregularities in how he won that seat in the first place. Nope, no untidy sealed divorce records got suddenly leaked to the press.
I find it even more amusing that Blagojevich was muscling the Tribune to fire the few honest editors left. Rod, baby, they’re going bankrupt because nobody trusts them any longer, and you’re holding out to make them your personal press agency? Looks like the (red)-ink-stained wretches are waking up from their Obama-induced high, and that tingle in their legs has turned into a three jackhammer hangover. Welcome back to reality, you cheap shills, and have fun trying to hold off Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings!
Meanwhile, this indictment couldn’t have landed on more deserving rascals. Go get ‘em, Fitzy!
HT: Ace of Spades HQ
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Ah, I see Bill beat me to this one. Fiddlesticks.
Blagojevich is a Democrat?
The links that Drudge provides all fail to mention the word “Democrat” except for the Chi Trib article that somehow needed to throw in a reference to the 1974 resignation of Nixon in the aftermath of the scandal involving the burglary of Democratic offices at Watergate.
The ChiTrib is so far in the tank for the Democrats that they’ve lost the ability to breathe air, but Blago still finds fault with their reporting. There’s just no pleasing some people.
I can only hope that someday soon my own Democratic Governor finally pays the piper for his misdeeds.
Fixed that right up for ya…
I endured a decade (it felt like) one year in Illinois-Land while in grad school - degree in hand, I then exited said State, never (voluntarily) to return for more than the briefest time possible. Even back then (late-60’s), the Chicago-based Demonrats had the entire State by the throat, a circumstance that had already been in place for many years.
Sad, really…there are some very nice people from Illinois - the best among them, however, seem to be those who got away from there as early as possible, and tend to stay as far away from it as feasible.
They need to revise their state slogan, to “The Land Lincoln Would Disown.”
Martinra, I encourage all editors to weigh in on whatever they wish to. We all have slightly different POVs, and those differences can be illuminating and instructive.
I only chime in about duplication when basically identical posts show up.
Anyway, I like yours better than mine.
I think this might be good job insurance for Fitzgerald.
I was nearly certain the Big O would fire Fitzgerald to save his buddy Rezko. But our baby-face governor has no friends on the left or right, having allowed the Chicago-controlled democrat legislature to bankrupt the state, and firing Fitzgerald could be seen as purely and act of preserving Chicago corruption in toto.
Please don’t dis all us Illinoisans. When you get South of C(r)ook County, we’re pretty reliably freedom-loving conservative types.
Ok, except Madison and St. Clair counties, which are in thrall to St. Louis and have hereditary Democrat offices.
Obama’s going to fire Fitzgerald anyway. And the mainstream media will applaud him for having the “courage” to get rid of a “witch-hunter” and “loose cannon”.
You heard it here first.
If GWB had any balls, one of his final acts would be to appoint Fitzgerald as Special Counsel to investigate this scandal.
Of course, GWB doesn’t have any balls….
Just searched “Senate Seat” on eBay…bwahahaha!
Now, that’s funny - and there are people bidding, as well!
I especially like the “No Shipping” notation on many of the listings.
They listed the NY Senate seat as well. Problem is if you win the bid you have to split your time between DC and NY. I’d rather join the “detainees” at Gitmo.