Illinois Gov. in Custody; Who Wants Obama Seat Now?
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein and Jonathan Karl Report: Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., was taken into federal custody Tuesday morning in Chicago, as part of a long-running federal corruption investigation, as first reported by The Chicago Tribune.
One really interesting tidbit from the Tribune: “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.”
Blagojevich still gets to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s now-vacant Senate seat. As long as he’s the governor — even if he’s under indictment — the power is his, and his alone.
But the latest developments complicate the politics around the vacant seat. If you’re an ambitious Illinois pol, would you even want what would otherwise be the biggest of political plums, if it gives you the taint of a connection to an indicted governor?
If you’re a national or state Democratic leader, would you want the seat to go to someone with a political future, if this guarantees a campaign issue for a Republican challenger in 2010?
One way to interpret this is it makes the seat more likely to go to a short-term caretaker — say, the 73-year-old state Senate president, Emil Jones Jr. — than to someone who’s considered a rising star, like 43-year-old Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill.
UPDATE: The indictment spells out in fairly incredible detail what Blagojevich felt he could demand in exchange for the Obama seat.
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald accuses the governor of "conspiring to sell or trade" the seat "for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife."
At various times, Blagojevich is allegedly recorded as discussing obtaining:
- a substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions
- placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year
- promises of campaign funds, including cash up front; and
- a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
And who is "Senate Candidate 5?" Whoever it is may be in trouble, too.
From Fitzgerald’s summary of the complaint: "Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might ‘get some [money] up front, maybe’ from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich claimed he was approached by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: ‘We were approached "pay to play." That, you know, he’d raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator.’
"On November 7, while talking on the phone about the Senate seat with Harris and an advisor, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and that he is ‘financially’ hurting, the affidavit states. Harris allegedly said that they were considering what would help the ‘financial security’ of the Blagojevich family and what will keep Blagojevich ‘politically viable.’ Blagojevich stated, ‘I want to make money,’ adding later that he is interested in making $250,000 to $300,000 a year the complaint alleges."
The indictment also appears to refer to senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett:
“Unless I get something real good [for Senate candidate 1], s***, I’ll just send myself, you know what I’m saying,” Blagojevich was taped saying the day before Election Day.
The Senate seat, the governor is alleged to have said, “is a f***ing valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”
“By this time, media reports indicated that Senate Candidate 1, an advisor to the President-elect, was interested in the Senate seat if it became vacant, and was likely to be supported by the President-elect,” the complaint states.
This is almost certainly Jarrett, who was rumored to be a possible Obama replacement but who has since taken herself out of the running.
There’s no indication that Obama or his people indicated any willingness to play Blagojevich’s game.
Still, the Republican National Committee jumped on the news Tuesday morning with a friendly reminder to the press that Obama endorsed the governor’s 2006 reelection bid.
But, fortunately for Team Obama, the most recent quote the RNC unearthed with Obama saying nice things about Blagojevich came in 2006.
And maybe the best part: Blagojevich considered appointing himself to the Senate seat, the benefits of such a move, he mused, remake his image for a possible presidential run in 2016.
From Fitzgerald’s summary of the complaint:
"Throughout the intercepted conversations, Blagojevich also allegedly spent significant time weighing the option of appointing himself to the open Senate seat and expressed a variety of reasons for doing so, including: frustration at being ‘stuck’ as governor; a belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor; a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016; avoiding impeachment by the Illinois legislature; making corporate contacts that would be of value to him after leaving public office; facilitating his wife’s employment as a lobbyist; and generating speaking fees should he decide to leave public office."
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Why is this a concern? Obama sold political favors and he still managed to fool enough people into voting for him. Get as much $$ as you can for the position Blago, it’s what American politics has become.
Posted by: howwouldiknow | December 9, 2008, 9:57 am 9:57 am
I live in Illinois and it’a about time
Posted by: jane | December 9, 2008, 10:01 am 10:01 am
The Gov of Illinois has been under the Feds ‘watchful eyes’ for some time now. Question is… why do the voters continue to re-elect politicians such as the Gov and let us not forget, George “W”.
Posted by: Sandi | December 9, 2008, 10:03 am 10:03 am
howwouldiknow: Oh, and the Bush administration isn’t corrupt?!! Are you kidding me? Their corruption extends far beyond local politics — into the realm of Big Business, i.e., Halliburton, Big Oil, Banks, etc. This is small potatoes next to what we have witnessed over the last 8 years coming out of the Bush Bunch.
Posted by: hang | December 9, 2008, 10:06 am 10:06 am
howouldiknow
nice try…what is the word “bitter”…
“Dumb” “jr high” or is it just sore…”loser”
huge detailed investigations focused into Obama from all the crooked politics in Illinois…and guess what?
he may be the one man in all of Illinois politics that can come out clean… that says a lot.
but it obviously must frustrate your mental abilities. lol
Posted by: dl | December 9, 2008, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Well…for decades Illinois and, especially, Chicago have had a reputation for running corrupt political machines designed solely for gaining political power at the expense of morality and ethics. So it is not surprising to see yet another Illinois politician caught. And we have a new President plucked from the same rotten basket of fruit as the govorner. What would Abe Lincoln think?
Posted by: Terrence O'Day | December 9, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am
Come and get Mayor Daley…he should be arrested too…Mayor Daley is Chicago’s very own George W. Bush….Feds…please take Mayor Daley and lock him up with the Governor and take that retart Stroger too….before they do anymore damage to Chicago
Posted by: connie | December 9, 2008, 10:26 am 10:26 am
what Abe Lincoln would think is awesome…
a guy was elected President who was investigated tooth and nail by the justice department etc because of Illinois overwhelmingly crooked worlkd of politics… and they could not find a single illegal thing about him.
the guy has to be pretty amazing to have risen above that.
Posted by: dl | December 9, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am
Good riddance Gov. Blagojevich this nitwit belongs locked up with former gov. George Ryan…they should be cellmates….GET THESE CORRUPT POLITICIAN OUT OF CHICAGO…YOU ARE SCREWING UP OUR CITY BIG TIME!
Posted by: CONNIE | December 9, 2008, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Well, we all know that whoever gets chosen will be from the State of Chicago and not from the State of Illinois. All of downstate Illinois will be forgotten as we have for years and years.
Posted by: KKF | December 9, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am
I see that Il still only seems to produce dodgy politicians!!!! I cant wait to see the real Obama unfold, his true colors are with the likes of the Il politicians.
Posted by: Lou | December 9, 2008, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Whewwwwwwwwwwww! Obama got out just in time. We all know its almost impossible to indite a president. Chicago politics, everything we have been talking about, finally showed up. Too bad it’s after the election….It would have been the difference.
Posted by: Autobahn | December 9, 2008, 10:43 am 10:43 am
We “The People” should have zero tolerance for corruption! Until the American people wake up and stop voting for criminals we will have criminals representing us.
Posted by: rickyt1234 | December 9, 2008, 10:54 am 10:54 am
Lou— ” his true colors are with the likes of the Il politicians”
And you know this….how? This man was checked out, investigated and vetted. But you still “think” you know something. Sad
Posted by: try the truth | December 9, 2008, 10:56 am 10:56 am
LMAO DEMOCRATS “CULTURE OF CORRUPTION” AWESOME!!!!!
Posted by: obusha 09 | December 9, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am
word around is that Plame prosecutor going after Rezko next lmao, watch out Obama their getting close
Posted by: obusha 09 | December 9, 2008, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Maybe PEBO will just have to appoint Karl Rove to spin this. Worked for Bush for 8 loooooooong years. Get over it right wingers, Obama is the president elect and is no more responsible for this than Bush was for cooking the intel in the run up to the Iraq war. …Oh, wait a minute. . .
Posted by: Rick | December 9, 2008, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Now people see why they are called “DemonRATS”
Seriously, would it not be fun to have a civil war against DemonRATs and exterminate them?
Posted by: leftisthater | December 9, 2008, 11:20 am 11:20 am
Gov Ryan was a Republican and is now in prison. Gov Blago is a Democrat and will now be going to prison. What in the world does party affiliation have to do with this. Ok so big deal Blago is a Democrat. Obama thrived in his administration.Maybe we will learn more Obama truths or maybe there arent any. If damaging material does come out many of you will just refuse to believe it because your man Obama walks on water. Sit back and wait – this is going to be real interesting. Now who will pick the new Senator – whats this Quinn guy like ??
Posted by: jimbo | December 9, 2008, 11:20 am 11:20 am
The FBI got permission before the election to wiretap???!!! Entrapment 101…pleaze!
Posted by: JOE | December 9, 2008, 11:25 am 11:25 am
And how does this taint Obama? He was no friend of Blagojevich, but the constant media chatter about “Chicago-style corruption” and the like will surely afflict Obama in the short term, Yes, the campaign is over, but watch those favorable numbers drop very soon for the president-elect…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 9, 2008, 11:28 am 11:28 am
Blago was aware that he was being taped and he still ran his mouth so there is NO entrapment here.
Posted by: jimbo | December 9, 2008, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Matt- and you know for sure that Obama was not friendly with Blago – how ???
Posted by: jimbo | December 9, 2008, 11:30 am 11:30 am
whoever’s left from the Cuomo/Kennedy farce…….who cares that they are from the ny/east/coast,/whatzinaname/location???
getter done>>>>>>
Posted by: johnXdem | December 9, 2008, 11:38 am 11:38 am
this opens the door for a REZKO deal
Posted by: johnXdem | December 9, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am
do they have films of him stuffing his payoff in a bra?
Posted by: johnXdem | December 9, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am
This is why the people of Chicago should vote on who fills this seat.
Posted by: real story | December 9, 2008, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald accuses the governor of “conspiring to sell or trade” the seat “for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife.” –> Well, based on Fitzgerald’s aggressive pursuit of player’s like Cheney and Rove and very probably Bush himself in the leak of classified information including the identity of intel operative’s culminating in absolutely NO other indictments than obvious fall-guy to be pardoned Scooter Libbey, truly a stalwart crusader for American justice paid in full by taxpayers in the mold of “Independent” Council Starr; everything from the indictment to the charges and investigation will be just as thorough and impartial as he has in the past. Afterall, CBSnews’ Andrew Cohen himself, nominated him as a likely candidate for the Obama team on the account of his “thoroughness” and “independence”. Two words in the English language that are apparently highly subjective, and subject to diverse interpretation based on the person using them.
Posted by: Dave | December 9, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
You have to love Chicago/Illinois politics. Just look how Obama got his state senate seat. He didn’t earn it, he just got his competition ousted on technicalities. This is just a taste of what you Obama zombies have elected. The best things is that because the Left blamed Bush for every little thing that went wrong(some merited, some not) Obama should be looked at with the same scrutiny. I especially like how Obama is bringing class and morality back into the White House, just look at his speech writer fondling the cut-out Hilary. The is going to be such an entertaining 4 years ahead. Lets not forget the Democratic Congressman who apparently just hates banks and loves frozen money. Thank you Left for providing the experience of Carter and the scandal of Clinton all wrapped up in such a well spoken(with script) package. With leaders like him, Cackling Pelosi, and hypocrite Franks the Right can just sit back and watch the Democrats do what they do best, self-implode!
Posted by: Brendan | December 9, 2008, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
To realstory
“This is why the people of Chicago should vote on who fills this seat.” WHAT? Chicago has not the right to decide on a senate seat that affects ALL of the state of Illinois. That’s the problem Chicago and it’s corruption are what causes agony to the rest of our state. You can bet that most of us south of I80 did not and do not want anything to do with Blagojevich but it’s hard to fight the Chicago Machine.
Posted by: KKF | December 9, 2008, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Local news reports, meanwhile, suggest that it was Obama chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel who blew the whistle on the governor. From the Huffington Post
If those of you trying to connect PE Obama to this took the time to read what took place would find that Gov Blago was angry because Obama wouldn’t give him anything. Now give it a rest!
Posted by: try the truth | December 9, 2008, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
You guys….keep trying to tie in Republicans with the Crimes committed by Democratics. Individuals commit crimes. Grow up
Posted by: bluecollarbytes | December 9, 2008, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Jesse Jr.
Posted by: philosopherkingtomas | December 9, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
Both parties are full of scumbags.
Posted by: Scorpio Redhead | December 9, 2008, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
CNN Politics is posing as an informative vehicle but really is a organ of the democratic party, misleading the general public and taking its money for an fake service.
I somebody had some doubt regarding this after the electoral campaign, the
non-mention of the party afiliation of
this individual is the last straw.
Who is willing to participate in a collectivr action in court requesting the suspension of the transmission license of CNN, unless they fire the
responsible for these misdeeds, beginning with the complete “BEST TEAM” (with some honorable exceptions)??
Posted by: tom wittmann | December 9, 2008, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Juicy and enjoyable. We should get them all, but I don’t think there is enough prison space available.
Posted by: Passin Thru | December 9, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
I think candidate 5 is Jesse Jackson Jr.
And if it is (and if it isn’t, we’ll soon know who it is), he’s toast.
And by the way, Rahm Emmanual may have gone to the authorities, but please, people, Fitzgerald got permission for the wiretaps in OCTOBER, BEFORE THE ELECTION. So Obama, the savior, is not indirectly the instigator of this. He is not the savior of Illinois politics.
If anything, obama is a product of it.
Posted by: beth | December 9, 2008, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
For those of you still not getting it..
Blago took bribes from Rezko. Obama took bribes from Rezko. And for the naive and mindless folks like dl.. the investigation and trial ( of Rezko ) was put off until after the election. Why was that? Will Obama get protected again? Pretty good odds that isn’t going to happen.. and it appears now he’s pissed off somebody who knows where the “bodies” are buried now.
Posted by: howwouldiknow | December 9, 2008, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
howwouldiknow – Wow! Get your facts straight! Rezko will be sentenced Jan. 6. Nothing was put off. Also, please provide the proof PEBO took bribes. Don’t you think that would have come up! PEBO was not protected, if fact the rethugs and faux news worked overtime to tie him to things. Problem was, people actually checked out the slanderous claims and found them to be lies! And the whole “pissed somebody off that knows where the bodies are” You guys are too funny, always writing your own non founded theories! Yes, the gov got pissed of because Obama wouldn’t, got that WOULDN’T play ball!
Posted by: try the truth | December 9, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
What a moron. How do idiots like this get elected? Well, I guess if Bush got re-elected after it was known what kind of an idiot he was, anyone can get elected. Voters need to wise up!
Posted by: Dave | December 9, 2008, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
IF it weren’t so damn sad, it would be funny
Posted by: Why are we in this handbasket? | December 9, 2008, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
Doesn’t sound to me like Blagojevich was as chummy with Obama as people would love to try to make him out to be. Why else would Blago be so quick to refer to Obama as a mother-you-know-what for being willing to cross his palm in exchange for selecting Obama’s choice to replace him in the Senate. Seems now like Blago better think about what is most important to him….money or the possibility of being granted a pardon down the road. Hmmmm…let’s just see who takes Obama’s seat. Given that I’m an Obama supporter who doesn’t think Obama had anything to do with any of this, my hope is that down the road when presented with an application for a pardon for Blagojevich, Obama will tell him “back at ya bud”.
Posted by: Jackie O | December 9, 2008, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
If these charges are true, (which judging by the transcript id say he’s toast) throw him in jail, for an large sentence, send a message. The only thing Obama is guilty of however is coming from Chicago, hardly a crime, though this will politically be a distraction for him sadly as it looks to be just one mans greed & arrogance. Apparently Obama’s Chief of Staff actually helped the F.B.I in this. Does anyone really think with Obama having won the big prize he would get involved in this? Obama is alot of things but he is not stupid! The legal authorities investigating all these Chicago characters have been thorough & have tried to find anything on Obama & have found no wrong doing, so he’s clean until proven otherwise.
Posted by: stonerscum | December 9, 2008, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
I guess reps don’t remember Jack Abramoff anymore. What a surprise!;)))
Posted by: ghost | December 9, 2008, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Rob and Pat…wanting to feather their own nest!! With ill gotten gains!! How much money is enought for these people?Don’t they live free in Gov. mansion..all bills paid..maid service..24/7 chef….free limo…Gov. jet.Security.What else can these people want from tax payers?
Posted by: orangecat | December 9, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
We are calling on President Elect Obama to fire Jon Favreau from his position as chief speechwriter in light of the now famous photograph of Mr. Favreau groping the breast of a cardboard image of Senator Hillary Clinton
Call Transition Headquarters:
202-540-3000 press option # 2 for a live person
Email Valerie Jarrett Co-Chair Transition
vjarrett@barackobama.com
and demand he be fired
Email Valerie Jarrett Co-Chair Transition
vjarrett@barackobama.com
http://w
ww.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32167608&o
p=1&o=all&view=all&subj=34012273446&aid=
-1&oid=34012273446&id=44200308
Posted by: boogieman7167 | December 10, 2008, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Where does not connect Obama?
Evidently, the Republican Attack Machine (represented mostly by the conservative Talk Shows) still don’t believe that the 2008 elections are over or that Obama won square and clean. At least they seem to not accept it.
In 2000 they did not win at the ballot box but found a way to use the courts to claim the presidency. In 2008 they still could not win clean, but manipulated their way in. Now they seem bent on grabbing every straw even if it is beyond reach!
They now suggest that the mere fact of being from Chicago taints Obama!!! How sorry! how sad!
Posted by: Ken | December 10, 2008, 2:53 am 2:53 am
question for all Obamaites, How could an honest man with a muslim name and black to boot get ahead so fast in a pay to play corrupt party ala Al capone be accepted and given all the support from such a gang of thieves ,without being one himself? it boggles the mind to think these crooks would give this man anything without knowing he was one of them. talk about nieve
Posted by: george searing | December 10, 2008, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm