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Feds arrest Illinois governor for corruption

Blagojevich 鈥榗orruptly used his office,鈥� US says after a wiretap probe.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges, including that he conspired 鈥渢o sell or trade鈥� an appointment to the US Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Obama.

The arrest makes Governor Blagojevich, a Democrat, the second Illinois chief executive in a row to face charges of pay-to-play politics, a dispiriting event for residents weary of the state鈥檚 reputation for seamy politics. His predecessor, Republican George Ryan, is serving a 6-1/2-year sentence for a corruption conviction two years ago.

鈥淭he breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,鈥� US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said Tuesday in a statement. 鈥淭hey allege that Blagojevich put a 鈥榝or sale鈥� 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.鈥�

Blagojevich was arrested along with his chief of staff, John Harris. Each was charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and solicitation of bribery. At a press conference, Mr. Fitzgerald characterized the governor鈥檚 actions as 鈥渁 political corruption crime spree.鈥�

Blagojevich appeared before US Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan Tuesday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance and a $4,500 bond, without making a statement.

Included in the FBI affidavit are charges that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade Mr. Obama鈥檚 vacated US Senate seat. On the wiretaps, the affidavit asserts, the governor speculated about trading the Senate appointment for perks such as a large salary for himself, once he leaves office, at an organization affiliated with labor unions; an appointment for his wife on corporate boards, where she might be paid as much as $150,000 a year; promises of campaign funds; and a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

In one conversation about the Senate seat, Blagojevich allegedly told Mr. Harris and an adviser he needed to consider his family and that he is 鈥渇inancially鈥� hurting. Harris responded that he and the adviser were weighing what would help the Blagojevich family鈥檚 鈥渇inancial security.鈥�

The affidavit also details discussions from last week in which Blagojevich is alleged to have said he might 鈥済et some [money] up front, maybe鈥� from an individual the government identifies only as 鈥淪enate Candidate 5.鈥�

Earlier, he was recorded claiming to have been approached by an emissary from that candidate, who said he would raise $500,000 for Blagojevich in exchange for the seat.

The charges, too, include allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others since the governor took office in 2003 to obtain benefits for himself, his family, and his campaign committee, repeating, in some cases the testimony of witnesses at the federal trial earlier this year of Antoin 鈥�Tony鈥� Rezko. Mr. Rezko, a donor to Blagojevich鈥檚 campaign, was convicted for using his connections to state board appointees to demand kickbacks from businesses that wanted to do business with the state.

But the charges focus primarily on events of the past two months, when Blagojevich allegedly sped up corrupt fundraising activities before a new state ethics law took effect, hindering any ability to accept financial contributions from anyone with a state contract. The allegations include documented instances in which the governor told individuals that he expected contributions ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 in exchange for state help and contracts. In one case, when the expected contribution from an executive of Children鈥檚 Memorial Hospital in Chicago didn鈥檛 come, Blagojevich discussed rescinding $8 million in state funds committed to the hospital, the affidavit says.

It also alleges that Blagojevich sought the firing of Chicago Tribune editors responsible for negative editorials about him, in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and owned by the Tribune Co.

Blagojevich was the first Democratic governor elected in the state in 30 years, winning in part because of a backlash against former Governor Ryan, who faced corruption scandals at the end of his term. Blagojevich campaigned with a reformist message, promising to change politics as usual in Illinois.

鈥淗e鈥檚 done everything possible contrary to that pledge,鈥� says Jay Stewart of the Better Government Association, a nonpartisan Chicago watchdog group. 鈥淭he governor hasn鈥檛 been convicted yet, but the court of public opinion and common sense tells you that something is deeply, deeply wrong with Illinois government.鈥�

Besides dealing a blow to the state鈥檚 psyche and national image, Blagojevich鈥檚 arrest casts a shadow over the appointment of Obama鈥檚 successor to the Senate. Any Blagojevich appointment will appear tainted, Mr. Stewart says.

On Tuesday, several Illinois politicians called for ways in which the open Senate seat could be filled without Blagojevich's involvement. Illinois Senate President Emil Jones promised to call lawmakers back into session to consider a bill for a special election to fill the seat.

The charges also come at a terrible time for a state facing a severe budget shortfall.

鈥淥ur financial crisis is now,鈥� Stewart says, noting that, until convicted, Blagojevich is still governor. 鈥淭his governor had difficulty getting things done in a less difficult environment.鈥�

Rumors about Blagojevich鈥檚 involvement in pay-to-play schemes and inflammatory evidence from the Rezko trial have persisted for at least a year. His approval ratings have been hovering at a paltry 13 percent.

The arrest was 鈥渢he whole notion of not whether, but when,鈥� says Paul Green, a political scientist at Roosevelt University in Chicago. 鈥淵ou expect it, it鈥檚 still shocking, but it鈥檚 not a huge surprise.鈥�

If Blagojevich is convicted, Illinois faces the prospect of having two former governors in jail, and future officeholders can expect heavy pressure to enact ethics reforms. One issue, says Professor Green, is the large amount of money required to run for statewide office in Illinois.

鈥淲e need to deal with the specific instances that led to this, and then we need to look at systemic issues that lead to this kind of conduct,鈥� says Stewart. 鈥淚f this isn鈥檛 evidence that our system is fundamentally corrupt, then I don鈥檛 know what is.鈥�