Posted on 04/02/2009 3:01:35 PM PDT by STARWISE
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his brother Rob and Christopher Kelly, a former top fundraiser for Blagojevich, were all indicted today on corruption charges, the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago announced.
Also charged in the indictment were Lon Monk, a lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff; John Harris, also a former chief of staff to Blagojevich; and William Cellini, a Springfield insider for decades.
The indictment comes four months after Blagojevich was arrested and charged with engaging in pay-to-play politics in a sweeping federal complaint that accused him of trading state jobs, contracts and regulatory favors for campaign contributions.
The criminal complaint charged Blagojevich with attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and seeking the firing of Tribune editorial writers in return for state help on the sale of Wrigley Field. The ballpark and newspaper are owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich's brother, Rob, took over as head of the governor's campaign fund last August, just two months before federal authorities won court authorization to wiretap the then-governor's home phone and campaign office.
Monk was also caught on the recordings.
This marks the third time Kelly has been charged by federal authorities but the first time for alleged wrongdoing with the former governor. In January the wealthy roofing contractor pleaded guilty to tax fraud for concealing his use of corporate funds to cover gambling debts, but just weeks later, he was charged in connection with a kickback scheme at O'Hare International Airport.
Authorities have alleged that Harris tried to carry out the governor's plan to have Tribune editorial writers fired for critical editorials of Blagojevich.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagobreakingnews.com ...
Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.
The former governor apparently isn’t even in Illinois today. He is registered at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., a hotel operator confirmed this morning. He could not be reached for comment, however.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/04/rod-blagojevich-indictment-illinois.html
~~Let the tapes and the singing begin ....... PING!
No Drudge siren of obommie bowing to saudi king and kissing his ring? That’s bigger news than Blago.
Yep. Time to climb the ladder. Fitz needs some bigger pelts. But I won’t hold my breath...
Blagojevich, 52, , was charged 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. He allegedly used his office in numerous matters involving state appointments, business, legislation and pension fund investments to seek or obtain such financial benefits as money, campaign contributions, and employment for himself and others, in exchange for official actions, including trying to leverage his authority to appoint a United States Senator, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Also charged as co-defendants in the same indictment are:
John Harris, 47, of Chicago, Blagojevich’s chief of staff from late 2005 until last December after he was arrested along with Blagojevich. Through his attorney, Harris, who is charged with a single count of wire fraud, has authorized the Government to disclose that he has agreed to cooperate with the United States Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of this case;
Alonzo Monk, 50, of Park Ridge, a lobbyist doing business as AM3 Consulting, Ltd., and a long-time Blagojevich associate who served as his general counsel when Blagojevich represented Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District, and later managed his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns, was his first gubernatorial chief of staff from 2003 through 2005, and later chairman of his campaign fund;
Robert Blagojevich, 53, of Nashville, Tenn., Blagojevich’s brother, who became chairman of his campaign fund in August 2008;
Christopher Kelly, 50, of Burr Ridge, a businessman and a principal campaign fundraiser who also served as chairman of Blagojevich’s campaign fund from early 2004 until August 2005. The indictment alleges that with Blagojevich’s knowledge and permission, Kelly at times exercised substantial influence over certain activities of the governor’s office; and
William F. Cellini, Sr., 74, of Springfield, a businessman who also raised significant funds for Blagojevich, in part through his role as the executive director of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. Cellini had longstanding relationships and influence with trustees and staff members of the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS), and he was associated with Commonwealth Realty Advisors, a real estate asset management firm that invested hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of TRS, the indictment alleges.
http://cbs2chicago.com/governor/rod.blagojevich.indicted.2.974448.html
Thank you .......
I’ll just ask the obligatory rhetorical question:
How the hell does Obama come out of such a system and not be corrupt himself?
He’ll walk.
The folks over on DU are all convinced this bowing was a photoshop — despite the video coverage... Of COURSE, this is being covered up.
As for this indictment — I’m still waiting to see Fitzgerald’s findings in his ACORN investigation, Project Vote, and how that ties to Obama, Pelosi, and Reid...
Maybe with these indictments Blago will spill the beans... One can only hope, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
Your welcome.
I like this part...
Harris through his attorney has authorized the Government to disclose that he has agreed to cooperate with the United States Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of this case;
I wonder if Zero will be called to testify ... and be found wanting and then impeached(???) Be still my beating heart. But then we’d have Biden so forget it ....
DUH! Are they that stupid? Never mind!
no patti? ... just damn
“Blagojevich’s brother, Rob, took over as head of the governor’s campaign fund last August, just two months before federal authorities won court authorization to wiretap the then-governor’s home phone and campaign office.”
From the above, the Justice department started wiretapping Blago’s activities in October, just before the election.
Nice timing!
When Obama BOWED DEEPLY he DID NOT do his Power Play “Hand on the Other person’;s shoulder” thingy....he thinks the Muslim KING is his superior.
Obama makes Blago look like a piker.
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