Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe

By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer Mike Robinson, Associated Press Writer – 11 mins ago

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama's election as president.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

The affidavit said Blagojevich discussed getting a substantial salary for himself at a nonprofit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions.

It said Blagojevich also talked about getting his wife placed on corporate boards where she might get $150,000 a year in director's fees.

He also allegedly discussed getting campaign funds for himself or possibly a post in the president's cabinet or an ambassadorship once he left the governor's office.

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Note: The Feds deviated from their normal MO and arrested this clown before his term nearly ended (as is usually the case), and before Christmas included:

1. He was trying to strong-arm campaign donations before a new state law restricting donations went into effect January 1, 2009.

2. He was trying to find a way to rescind an $8Mil state grant to Children's Memorial Hospital after the hospital CEO did not reciprocate with a $50K to $100K contribution.

3. He was holding up approval of the Chicago Tribune selling Wrigley Field until the fired some editors that wrote less than flattering things about Blago.

4. And, the straw that broke the camel's back, he was trying to sell the Senate seat Obama vacated to the highest bidder.

What a piece of work.