Illinois Governor Frog Marched for Selling Obama’s Senate Seat
Stunning news out of Illinois. Democrat governor and friend of Barack Obama, Rod Blagojevich has been dragged out of his Chicago home for trying to sell the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama to the highest political bidder. And to top that off, he may have been conspiring with President Elect Barack Obama to fill a cabinet position in Obama’s administration with someone who could contribute cash to Blagojevich or perhaps get him out of trouble with the federal investigation.
From the Star Tribune here:
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges 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 and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions.
Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.
A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was heard on wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. He even wanted a cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
Regarding the Senate seat, Blagojevich, Harris and others have engaged in efforts to obtain personal gain, including financial gain, to benefit Blagojevich and his family through corruptly using Blagojevich’s sole authority to appoint a successor to the unexpired term of the President-elect’s former Senate seat.
If convicted, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while solicitation of bribery carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
This is the type of government we can expect from Obama. He was breastfed on Chicago politics. How closely Obama has been conspiring with Blagojevich to fill his old Senate seat will certainly come out soon. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Obama enters office with an impeachment threat already hanging over his head? Also from this story, it said that Obama could smell the stink of corruption on Blaggie:
Blagojevich agreed it was unlikely that the President-elect would name him Secretary of Health and Human Services or give him an ambassadorship because of all of the negative publicity surrounding him.
HotAir is also blogging this here.
Oh what a great start to the Obama administration. Full of crooks and criminals…Gee I can’t wait to see what change is coming now.
Actually, the fact that Obama has been adamant about not hiring crazed leftists and people with suspicious or criminal backgrounds for the cabinet and administration top positions is real encouraging. And they did have sense enough to kill Blaggie’s hopes at that cabinet position.
But was Obama smart enough to not give his recommendations at all to Blaggie? Somehow I doubt it, and even that much could get him in trouble.
I read that Blago had his eye on the presidency in 2016. He probably thought, if that rotten SOB can do it, then why can’t I?
I’m sure this will all be spun to make it seem like like poor Bambi is a victim in all this.
A subpoena has been issued for Bambi & Rezko’s house loan deal