Corruption 'crime spree'
FEDERAL CHARGES | 'Gov. Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low,' Fitzgerald says in revealing alleged shakedown schemes
It's a stunning portrait of Illinois' chief executive.
Gov. Blagojevich is heard on tape castigating politicians who won't play along: "F - - - them."
(Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)
He refers to President-elect Barack Obama as a motherf - - - - -.
His wife Patti is heard shouting "F - - - them!" as her husband talks about the Chicago Tribune.
More outrageous than the language detailed in a federal document are the charges against the Democratic governor. Scheming to sell a U.S. Senate seat. Trying to shake down a children's hospital. Plotting to get a newspaper editorial writer fired.
The damning words, caught on three wiretaps and laid out in a 76-page criminal complaint, portray Blagojevich as desperate to accumulate cash for himself and his wife even as federal investigators closed in on him.
Allegations of corruption have dogged Blagojevich for years, but the feds say it was his conduct over the last eight weeks -- caught on wiretaps -- that led to the shocking arrest of a sitting governor.
The FBI arrived at the governor's North Side home early Tuesday and led him away in handcuffs, putting an end to what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called "a political corruption crime spree."
"Gov. Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low," Fitzgerald said. "We acted to stop that crime spree."
Blagojevich is the second Illinois governor in a row to be charged with corruption. Former Gov. George Ryan is serving prison time and seeking presidential clemency.
Fitzgerald said the feds acted with urgency on Blagojevich before some of the alleged schemes could be carried out. The feds had been listening in on a wiretap on the governor's home phone and on two bugs at his campaign office. The FBI had covertly entered his campaign offices to plant the listening devices.
Fitzgerald called Blagojevich's attempts to get a kickback in exchange for an appointment to a U.S. Senate seat particularly appalling. "The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," he said.
More than an hour after Fitzgerald's news conference, Blagojevich appeared in court.
Biting his lower lip, Blagojevich quietly entered the courtroom without a smile. He emerged from a prisoner holding area wearing a black and gray tracksuit. He looked out of place in the room crowded with dark business suits.
The governor sat behind his chief of staff, John Harris, who was also arrested and charged Tuesday.
"John, good morning," Blagojevich said, shaking his hand.
The governor stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan, head down, hands folded in front of him. At times, he shifted uncomfortably as the charges were read.
Blagojevich looked up at prosecutor Reid Schar and half rolled his eyes when Schar read portions of the charges involving an attempt to oust members of the Tribune's editorial board.
The charges Blagojevich and Harris face span three main areas: corrupting the U.S. Senate selection process; trying to extort the Chicago Tribune, and taking part in schemes to shake down people seeking state business.
After court, the governor patted a prosecutor on the back and tried joking with her. Two deputy marshals walked over to him and urged him to move along.
The governor's lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky, would not comment.
Blagojevich, who turns 52 today, began his day Tuesday with a 6 a.m. call from FBI Chief Robert Grant, who told him there were two agents outside his door.
"I woke him up," Grant said. "The first thing he asked was this a joke. He wanted to make sure this was an honest call."
In his pajamas, Blagojevich was given time to change his clothes. He chose a jogging suit. At FBI headquarters, the governor was fingerprinted and posed for a mug shot.
Blagojevich was given the option to have a business suit delivered to him or change into a suit before his hearing, but he refused.
The FBI's plans for an arrest were complicated by the governor's recent support of a local company whose workers were laid off. CBS' ''The Early Show'' had booked Blagojevich to talk about the issue Tuesday morning. A limo was to arrive for the governor just about the time the FBI planned to arrest him. The appearance was called off at the last minute.
At an hourlong news conference, Grant talked of Illinois' reputation for corruption given the conviction of former Gov. George Ryan and the new charges against Blagojevich.
"I can tell you one thing: If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States," Grant said, "it is one hell of a competitor."