CHICAGO – The governor of Illinois was arrested on charges of conspiring to sell an appointment to president-elect Barack Obama’s recently vacated US Senate seat in what prosecutors called ‘a political corruption crime spree.’
Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich was also accused on Tuesday of demanding kickbacks for government contracts, lucrative jobs and appointments and trying to get certain editors fired from the Chicago Tribune newspaper because of their critical coverage of his administration.
‘The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,’ said US attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
‘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.’
‘Governor Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low,’ Fitzgerald said at a press conference, adding that the state’s top leader ‘has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree.’
Obama said he was not aware of allegations that Blagojevich – who as governor is charged with appointing a US senator when a seat becomes vacant – was shopping it around to find the highest bidder.
‘I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening,’ Obama told reporters.
‘Like the rest of the people of Illinois, I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US attorney’s office today,’ the president-elect said, adding that it would not be ‘appropriate’ for him to comment further on the ongoing investigation.
The corruption charges prompted speculation about who else might be implicated in the case, as the governor allegedly sought out the highest bid for the senate seat.
Authorities allege he considered taking the seat himself to avoid impeachment by the Illinois legislature and to remake his image for a potential run for president in 2016.
He was also allegedly taped talking about trading the seat for a cabinet post, ambassadorship, a ‘cushy’ union job or a high-paying spot on a corporate board for his wife.
Blagojevich was released on a U$4 500 dollar bond (bail) on Tuesday after making a brief appearance before a federal judge in Chicago. – Nampa-AFP
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