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http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Gov.Blagojevich.Federal.2.883154.htmlCBS/AP said:Dec 9, 2008 9:14 am US/Central
Gov. Rod Blagojevich Arrested On Federal Charges
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Gov Rod. Blagojevich has been taken into federal custody, accused of putting Barack Obama's senate seate up to the highest bidder and attempting to shake down the Tribune Co. on the sale of Wrigley Field.
An astonishing 76-page affidavit reveals that federal agents tapped the governor's conversations and caught him attempting to gain financially from the Senate appointment.
Authorities arrested the governor at his home Tuesday morning.
U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randall Samborn says both Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested Tuesday.
According the a release from the U.S. Attorney's office, Blagojevich and Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging 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; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.
Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident.
At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed 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.
A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
The probe is part of Operation Board Games, a five-year-old public corruption investigation of pay-to-play schemes, including insider-dealing, influence-peddling and kickbacks involving private interests and public duties.
Federal agents today also executed search warrants at the offices of Friends of Blagojevich located at 4147 N. Ravenswood in Chicago.
The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds. A portion of the affidavit recounts the testimony of various witnesses at Rezko's trial earlier this year.
Federal prosecutors have investigated Blagojevich's administration for at least three years. They've been looking at everything from how he hired people for state jobs to the actions of friends and contributors.
Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko awaits sentencing on a federal corruption conviction in which he was charged with shaking down businesses wanting to do state work for campaign contributions.
The governor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
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