Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested on corruption charges. Blagojevich is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois, Blagojevich conspired to trade or sell the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama.
The 51-year-old governor has also been charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper’s editorial board who had been critical of him fired.
“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. “They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.”
In wiretaps over the past month, Blagojevich is alleged to have discussed obtaining a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions; a spot for his wife on paid corporate boards; promises of campaign funds — including cash up front; a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
“If they’re not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it, Blagojevich allegedly 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 was also quoted as saying that the seat was “a valuable thing _ you just don’t give it away for nothing.”
He also allegedly noted becoming a U.S. senator might remake his image for a possible presidential run in 2016.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, a former congressional candidate who now serves in Blagojevich’s administration have been mentioned as possible Senate replacements for Obama.