Blago, Brother & others indicted for corruption

[Weatherman]

Disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is on a resort vacation in Florida, was indicted today on a host of federal corruption charges.

Blagojevich is accused of plotting to trade or sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat and a host of other crimes. Among the others are an alleged threat to withhold state help in the Tribune Company's attempt to sell Wrigley Field if certain editorial writers weren't fired, and an alleged attempt to shake down Children's Memorial Hospital.

Blagojevich was out of town when the indictment was filed. He is in Orlando, Fla., area, staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista. He reportedly plans to take his wife, Patti, and two daughters to Disney World.

No one answered calls to the room where Blagojevich was registered.

Publicist Glenn Selig said Blagojevich isn't in Chicago and wouldn't say when Blagojevich will return.

It was not necessary for Blagojevich to be present when the indictment was handed down.

http://cbs2chicago.com/governor/rod.blagojevich.indicted.2.974448.html

:nelson

[KRonn]

No surprise, but it will be interesting to see what happens, if/what he's found guilty of, and if anyone else follows him as well.

[Weatherman]

Jesus Christ I can't believe I voted for this fucker in 2002:

Among the new factual allegations are that:

        * beginning in 2002 and continuing after Blagojevich was first elected governor, Blagojevich and Monk, along with Kelly and previously convicted co-schemer Antoin "Tony" Rezko, agreed that they would use the offices of governor and chief of staff for financial gain, which would be divided among them with the understanding that the money would be distributed after Blagojevich left public office;
        * in 2003, Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly, Rezko and other co-schemers implemented this agreement by directing lucrative state business relating to the refinancing of billions of dollars in State of Illinois Pension Obligation Bonds to a company whose lobbyist agreed to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to Rezko out of the fee the lobbyist would collect, and Rezko in turn agreed to split the money with Blagojevich, Monk and Kelly;
        * After it became public that Kelly and Rezko were under investigation and ceased playing a significant role in raising campaign funds, Blagojevich personally continued to trade his actions as governor for personal benefits, including, for example, delaying a state grant to a publicly-supported school while trying to leverage a U.S. Congressman, who supported the school, or the Congressman's brother, to hold a campaign fundraiser for Blagojevich; and
        * in an interview on March 16, 2005, Blagojevich lied to FBI agents when he said that he maintains a separation, or firewall, between politics and state business; and he does not track, or want to know, who contributes to him or how much they are contributing to him.

http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/rrbetal4-2-09finalindict.pdf

[KRonn]

Jesus Christ I can't believe I voted for this fucker in 2002:

I bet when he ran, his campaign was about...let me guess... honesty and curbing corruption? Stuff like that.   

[Weatherman]

Jesus Christ I can't believe I voted for this fucker in 2002:

I bet when he ran, his campaign was about...let me guess... honesty and curbing corruption? Stuff like that.   

Yup; on a pledge to "End corruption in Springfield" after the George Ryan scandals. Epic fail.